National Party's 90th birthday!
We have officially launched our National Party Campaign and we celebrated the National Party's 90th birthday!
It was amazing to celebrate with some of the legends of our party - NZ’s first female Prime Minster Dame Jenny Shipley and our former “Rock Star” Prime Minister Sir John Key!
Our National Party values stay strong 90 years on - Individual Freedom and Choice, Personal Responsibility, Competitive Enterprise and Reward for Achievement, Limited Government, Equal Opportunity and Citizenship, Strong Families and Caring Communities.
It was a great night to celebrate with so many amazing people who have given so much to our party and our country. Thank you!
Party Vote NATIONAL for NO NEW TAXES
As we launch our National Party Campaign the choice this election is clear between National promising no new taxes and a plan to build the future - or a Labour Coalition planning 9 new taxes to pay for its spending addiction and so-called free promises! Party vote National for NO new taxes!!
OUT AND ABOUT
National Party delivering for locals
It was great to meet Brent and his team at Hustler Equipment and hear about their positive experience of the work National has done to date.
They are a 100% Kiwi-owned company, based right here in Hastings, and they build uniquely engineered, world-class products which are formed from an innovative heritage of ingenuity, combined with a wealth of industry knowledge and experience.
It was great to be able to share what we, in government, have achieved to date and talk about the work we have done to reduce interest rates, crime, improving health outcomes, constructing the HB Expressway, improving education results by getting back to basics and reducing red tape for our primary producers, our farmers, our growers.
We will continue to work hard to fix the basics and build the future.
Thank you for having me!
Warm welcome at Waiapu House
It was a pleasure to visit Waiapu House and have a wonderful tour of the facilities and meet many of the residents.
Thank you for having me along and showing me around so I understand more about our retirement village sector.
Officially welcoming 2026 Ross Shield teams
It was fantastic to be part of a historical morning in Hastings as we officially welcomed the 2026 Ross Shield teams with a first-ever Hasting's parade!
As the oldest junior rugby tournament in New Zealand starting in 1902, it is even older than the Ranfurly Shield.
The Ross Shield carries unmatched history, tradition, and heritage for our Hawke's Bay region.
It represents the very best of community, sportsmanship, and local pride.
To every player lacing up their boots this week: making it to this stage is a massive achievement.
Best of luck to all the teams. Play hard and enjoy every moment.
Hawke's Bay's first Crisis Recovery Cafe
It was great to be part of the official ribbon-cutting for Hawke's Bay's first Crisis Recovery Cafe alongside the first Minister of Mental Health Matt Docey and Napier MP Katie Nimon.
People in need of mental health and addiction support in Hawke’s Bay will now have another place to turn, with the cafe opening on Friday.
The new Hawke’s Bay Crisis Recovery Café, Te Wāhi Poutoko Hūmārie, will provide a calm, peer-led place in the community for people who need support.
Emergency departments aren’t always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. They can be busy, brightly lit and feel far too clinical when often what someone needs is a calm place to sit down and talk to someone who understands.
The café will be led by Connect Community Trust alongside a group of local mental health and addiction providers, building on the work they are already doing.
The café will open on Friday this week and will initially operate from 6pm to 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The hours will be reviewed after the first four weeks to ensure they reflect local demand.
Congratulations to Inspector Caroline Martin!
A big congratulations to Inspector Caroline Martin for being promoted to her new role as the Hawke's Bay Area Commander.
She replaces Superintendent Lincoln Sycamore, who has taken up a new role at Police National Headquarters as Director-Tactical Operations.
Since joining the New Zealand Police in 2005, she has worked across a range of frontline, CIB and prevention roles. Caroline began her policing career in the Wellington District before returning home to Hawke’s Bay in 2018.
I look forward to working with her. Congratulations again!
Candidates' debate in full swing
Candidates' debates are in full swing. It's a great opportunity for people to hear National's plan to build the future for Hawke's Bay and keep building on the progress we are making in our region.
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Economy strengthening, books getting better
The pre-election update released this week forecasts healthy economic growth and a distinct improvement in the government's books.
The numbers show that the deficit in the year ending July this year was $3.4 billion smaller than forecast in the Budget in May, reflecting stronger economic momentum.
Treasury’s forecasts also show:
• significantly smaller deficits this year and next year
• bigger surpluses in the following years
• less debt
• lower debt servicing costs
• the economy growing at an average of 2.6 per cent
• 220,000 more jobs being created; and
• wages rising faster than prices.
The positive outlook reflects hard work by households and businesses, backed by a government focused on restoring fiscal discipline and driving economic growth.
SH50 Ngaruroro River Bridge work to get underway
A contract has now been signed for strengthening work the State Highway 50 (SH50) Ngaruroro River Bridge, south of Fernhill, to help improve the resilience of Hawke’s Bay’s transport network and unlock a vital connection for local communities and freight.
Carrying nearly 7,000 vehicles per day, around 5 per cent of that heavy vehicles, the current bridge on SH50 is more than 80 years old, with speed and weight restrictions since October 2022. Funding was approved for bridge strengthening work in December last year and we’re getting on with the work.
SH50 is an important route into and out of Hawke’s Bay for freight operators, as well as local businesses, emergency services, and other road users. It also plays an important role as an alternative route when other parts of the network are disrupted.
Since funding was approved, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has been working to secure consents and finalise detailed planning. Downer will deliver the project, with site offices due to be established shortly. At a cost of between $5 million and $10 million, construction is expected to begin in October and be completed next year.
Once the work is complete, the weight and speed restrictions currently in place on the bridge will be lifted. The strengthened bridge will support High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV) and 50MAX freight configurations, while also providing a stronger and more resilient transport link for everyone who relies on SH50.
New planning laws receive Royal assent
The Planning Act and Natural Environment Act have received Royal assent and are now law, marking the beginning of New Zealand’s transition to a new and fundamentally different planning system.
The replacement of the Resource Management Act 1991 represents a significant shift in fixing the basics of how New Zealand manages its land and environment and plans for future development, unlocking economic growth.
With Royal assent, the two Acts now provide the legal foundation for a planning system that will make it easier to build new homes and infrastructure, develop renewable energy and produce the food and fibre the country needs, while providing more effective environmental management and greater certainty for communities, councils, businesses and investors.
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