It’s been another great recess week with a rural focus. 

It was so good to spend a few days at the Fieldays for a few days connecting with farmers and growers from across the country and seeing the innovation, development, and opportunity in our primary sector.

Our government is backing rural NZ, taking away the unnecessary regulations, taking agriculture out of the ETS and strengthening our economy to bring down interest rates and reduce the on farm inflationary costs!

We are pumping aspiration and confidence back into our primary industries!

 

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OUT AND ABOUT

I always love getting out on the farm and this time I visited one of a handful of dairy sheds in the Tukituki electorate.

Paul and Rosie Franklin were our hosts and spoke about their journey from sheep farming to dairy - now a large-scale operation in Central Hawke’s Bay.

I spoke about our Coalition Government’s support for our kiwi farmers and the work we are doing to cut red tape and get on top of inflation.

We are backing farmers and keeping our promise to take agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

New Zealand has some of the most carbon-efficient food producers in the world. It makes no sense to send jobs and production overseas to countries that are much less efficient.

Our government is committed to unlocking development and investment while ensuring the environment is protected. We must be aspirational for our farmers - the backbone of our economy.

I visited the award-winning boutique family-owned winery Askerne Estate. They have won 71 awards since its inception in 1993. I met with owners John and Kathryn Loughlin and we talked about the sale and supply of alcohol (cellar door sales) amendment bill and whether it would impact them.

It was a beautiful day to be out, and I learnt all about their gourmet picnics and the hard work they put in to make the winery what it is today.

I received a very warm welcome from the staff and students at Kereru School. I learnt about how they were putting structured literacy into practice and how well the kids responded to it.

The teachers are doing such a wonderful job and it’s great to see the school thriving post the Cyclone.

 

I had an early start with a blessing before sunrise to open the new classroom block at Hastings Boys High School.

It was a special day for the school as it’s been a long journey taking seven years from being approved, to the official opening. Well done to everyone involved in bringing this new open plan education space to life.

 

I am also working hard to get more support for mums and babies. It’s important we put a focus on post-natal care and the vital support that is needed.

My members bill will provide more support for mums who need it!

I will continue to advocate for post-natal care and work hard to get this bill passed into law.

You can read my interview here- National MP Catherine Wedd shares traumatic birth story, bill drawn to give new mums longer hospital stays - NZ Herald

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

RURAL BANKING INQUIRY

This week our finance minister announced a select committee inquiry into banking.

Promoting robust competition in the banking sector is vital to rebuilding the economy. It’s critical we better understand the role of bank competition in New Zealand.

I sit on both the finance and expenditure committee and primary production which are both involved in this inquiry. I will be one of the MPs listening and asking questions of the banking sector. 

GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES TACKLING GENDER PAY GAP

The coalition Government is taking action to reduce the gender pay gap in New Zealand through the development of a voluntary calculation tool.

The Ministry for Women will work with business leaders to agree on an easy-to-use approach to voluntary gender pay gap reporting that will see all businesses have access to the same measurement components to calculate their pay gaps.

IN THE MEDIA

Tukituki MP: ‘Budget 2024 great news for Hawke’s Bay’ - NZ Herald

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/12/govt-to-spark-banking-inquiry-with-a-focus-on-rural-banking/

National MP Catherine Wedd shares traumatic birth story, bill drawn to give new mums longer hospital stays - NZ Herald

 

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I look forward to seeing you out in our Tukituki community soon.

Regards, Catherine

 

Catherine Wedd | MP for Tukituki

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