Carl's News

MP for Whanganui

20 Aug 2026Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl - August 2026

In The House with Carl A focus on minimising our waste has been on the agenda over the last month. Last week, Minister for the Environment,

16 Jul 2026Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl - July 2026

In The House with Carl Whanganui will soon have a co-response team comprising health professionals and police responding to 111 mental distress calls. It means people

21 May 2026Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl - May 2026

In The House with Carl Protecting young New Zealanders online is an issue we cannot afford to ignore. Parliament recently held a special debate on the

17 Apr 2026Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl - April 2026

In The House with Carl The National-led Government is focused on making the country safer for New Zealanders, and on supporting our Police. Parliament recently passed

5 Mar 2026Carl Bates

Final report into youth harm online released by select committee

The final Select Committee report on the inquiry into the harm young New Zealanders encounter online has been released today, says National’s Committee Lead on the

19 Feb 2026Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In The House with Carl Even though it is only February, the National-led Government is focused on fixing the basics and building the future. Yesterday was

16 Jan 2026Carl Bates

National MP’s Bill would speed up employment mediation services

National’s Whanganui MP Carl Bates has submitted a new members’ bill that would create more effective and efficient employment mediation services. “Parts of New Zealand’s mediation

18 Dec 2025Carl Bates

Connecting With Carl

Connecting With Carl Issue 24 - December 2025 In The House with Carl The interim report of the Education and Workforce Committee’s inquiry into the harm

16 Oct 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

Rt Hon Jim Bolger ONZ Rt Hon Jim Bolger. the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand and seventh leader of the New Zealand National Party died

19 Sep 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In The House with Carl What is your view on banning social media for under 16’s? Well, last week I chaired the Education and Workforce Committee

8 Aug 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In The House with Carl Last week I questioned Education Minister Hon Erica Stanford about her announcement on the replacement of NCEA with new qualifications in

17 Jul 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In the House with Carl If the success of a government is based on effective policy delivery, the National-led Government will be judged positively. Check out

19 Jun 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In the House with Carl The Budget Debate is one of Parliament's most significant annual debates, taking place after the Budget is delivered. This debate concluded

15 May 2025Carl Bates

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In the House with Carl This week I asked Hon Christopher Bishop (Transport) a question in the House about the announced tougher measures against anti-social drivers

17 Apr 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In the House with Carl Last Wednesday my Members’ Bill, the Juries (Age of Excusal) Amendment Bill had its First Reading in Parliament. The Bill passed

21 Mar 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In the House with Carl Law and order were major campaign issues for National in 2023, and the National-led Government has a number of Bills passing

20 Feb 2025Carl Bates

Connecting with Carl

In the House with Carl Parliament is well and truly back for 2025. The coalition Government has made economic growth its priority for 2025 and the

28 Jan 2025Carl Bates

National MP’s bill would raise jury age to 72

National MP’s bill would raise jury age to 72 “Today, my Member’s Bill, which will raise the age of automatic excusal from jury duty from 65