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Connecting with Carl Bates

21 November 2024

Carl Bates


Issue 12 - November 2024

The Election and our new Government

As we approach the first anniversary of the formation of the coalition Government there has been a strong focus on delivering on National’s election promises. Today, anti-gang legislation, including a ban on the wearing of gang patches in public takes effect.
On Tuesday 12th November, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivered a speech of apology on behalf of the Government to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based institutions. This was one of those rare days when the House was united in its condemnation of the abuse disclosed to the Royal Commission and in its desire to offer redress.
As a backbench MP I have the opportunity to put a private members bill in the ballot. During the last month I put the Juries (Age of Excusal) Bill in the so called “Biscuit tin” from which these get drawn. It would raise the age for automatic exclusion from a jury from 65 to 72 years of age. Its progress is now entirely dependent on the luck of the draw! 

Around and about the electorate

Despite being on crutches for an injured knee there has been a busy schedule of engagements right around the electorate. One of the happiest visits was to Matapu School in South Taranaki to inform 12-year-old Bridgette Bocock that her artwork would feature on my MP Christmas Card this year.
The Whanganui Electorate has some amazing manufacturing businesses that many people will never have heard of. Monkeytoe at Normanby is one such business, having supplied componentry for projects as diverse as CostCo in West Auckland, the Transmission Gully motorway and the new Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch.
A step back in time meant dressing up for Whanganui’s Heritage Parade at Labour Weekend. Speaking of parades, the Christmas Parade season is almost upon us and I will be participating in a number of these across the electorate.
National List MP Nancy Lu joined me in Whanganui last Friday as we visited a number of Chinese owned businesses and several with export activities to China. Nancy was particularly taken with the blue flowers at New Zealand Delphiniums, another of Whanganui’s export business community.
The month included a whole range of events, as diverse as the official opening of the revamped Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui and Story Time in Miss Gilberd’s classroom at Normanby School. This included hosting Minister Goldsmith in Whanganui to speak about the support of a number of successive Governments, commencing when Hon. Chester Borrows was our MP, provided the Sarjeant project.

Governing for you

Several significant pieces of legislation have been debated in recent weeks. The Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Act was passed late last month putting a pause on the need for farmers to file freshwater farm plans. Read more in the Stratford Press link below. I know that this has been very well received by farmers throughout the electorate.
The Crown Minerals Amendment Act is currently before the Committee of the House. This Bill reverses the arbitrary ban on exploration for new oil and gas deposits imposed by the previous government. Gas is vital to our transition to a low-carbon future. The Fast-Track Approvals Bill has returned from select committee and passed its Second Reading last Wednesday. 

Some Events I'll be attending

  • Saturday 23/11 - Whanganui River Market
  • Saturday 23/11 - Hawera Volunteer Fire Brigade Honours Night
  • Thursday 28/11 - Opening of Stratford Medical Centre (with Hon Dr Shane Reti)
  • Saturday 30/11 - Stratford A&P Show
  • Friday 6/12 - Both the Eltham and Stratford Christmas Parades

Links to recent news items

Carl Bates
Member of Parliament for Whanganui
Whanganui - South Taranaki - Stratford