It has certainly been a busy start to the year, full of positive announcements for Hawke’s Bay, including the speed limits going back up to 100km on the Napier Taupo SH5 and SH51 between Clive and Napier and the $67 million investment into our hospital to upgrade the radiology department and fund a new cancer treatment machine.
I was also thrilled last week to receive a call from our Prime Minister to ask me to Chair the Environment Select Committee. I am honoured to be able to Chair the Committee and lead it through some big pieces of work, especially the Resource Management Act Reforms, which will enable us to get things built faster and more efficiently in New Zealand.
Our team is back and energised for 2025
It was great to kick off the year with our Caucus for a full strategy session in Hamilton. Our focus as a team this year is on driving economic growth to lift incomes, create opportunities, and deliver quality public services.
Our government has already made significant progress, with inflation dropping, interest rates starting to fall, and wages rising faster than inflation.
This year, our government will take decisive action to strengthen growth and productivity, ensuring benefits are felt across all communities.
By ending the “culture of no,” comprehensive reforms and reduced red tape will create a more enabling environment for businesses and communities to thrive.
Latest Science and Investment Announcements good for Hawkes Bay
Hawke’s Bay’s apple and pear industry is set to benefit from our government’s latest science and investment announcements.
The Government has announced the largest reforms to the science sector in decades and will boost the economy and benefit our primary industries.
This includes establishing a new agency, ‘Invest New Zealand’, as the Government’s one-stop-shop for foreign direct investment, to help reach goal of doubling exports by 2034.
It will be focussed on attracting greater investment into truly innovative activities in existing sectors and those with high potential to raise productivity and drive economic growth, as well as greater research and development investment and innovative activity in New Zealand by multi-national companies.
It will also be tasked with attracting more skilled professionals to New Zealand, to help foster innovation, raise domestic capabilities and improve international connections.
Our primary industries are the backbone of our region’s economy, and we need our system to be future-focused and working on the science and innovation that is most important for New Zealand and particularly Hawke’s Bay.
OUT AND ABOUT
Volunteer Firefighters put their skills to the test in Havelock North
It’s already been a busy time out and about in Tukituki this year.
It was wonderful to spend time with Voluntary Firefighters from across the country competing in the United Fire Brigades Association North Island Waterway Challenge on the Havelock North Village Green.
The skill and teamwork from all the competing teams was super impressive and competitive.
It was great to learn more about the amazing work these volunteers do in our communities across NZ.
86 percent of our 14,000 firefighters in NZ are volunteers and contribute so much time to our communities.
Also loved seeing our volunteer Havelock North Team competing.
We are so grateful for everyone’s voluntary service and commitment to our communities across New Zealand.
First 24 Hour Vet Clinic opens in Hastings
Congratulations to Brendan, Caroline and their team at Vet Services for opening the first Hawke’s Bay Urgent Care and After Hours Veterinary Clinic in Grays Road in Hastings.
It is wonderful to have this purpose built facility in our city to provide for animal emergencies which can happen at any time. This is the first 24 hr Veterinary service to care for our district and region’s animals and it was very exciting to be shown around the facility.
Potts Classic sees teenage sensation smash 3000 World Record
It was very exciting to attend the Potts Classic at the Sports Park and witness top athletes from across NZ compete on the Track and Field.
And there was one stand out and that was seeing Sam Ruthe, a 15 year old from Tauranga win the Mens 3000 metres and set a new 15 year old world record. I loved seeing a piece of history happening right here in Hastings.
Al Fresco Fridays in Hastings
It was great to support our local hospitality establishments as the first Al Fresco Friday kicked off. A beautiful evening to showcase all the amazing cuisine we have in the city.
It was fantastic to see Hastings coming alive.
94 years ago the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake struck at 10.47am, on the 3rd February.
At the same time at the Hastings Clock Tower we remembered those who lost their lives in this devastating natural disaster. It was special to spend time with our local survivors including Ray Hensman, and Gwen and Alan Arrell, who were at Hastings Central School and Mahora School at the time of the earthquake and shared their emotional stories.
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Speed limit reductions reversal
Our government is working hard to get our economy back on track and it is great news for our region to have the speed limit on both SH5 between Rangitaiki to Eskdale and SH51 between Clive and Napier reversed to 100km.
From the 30 January to 13 March 2025, NZTA will consult with the community to see if there is public support to retain the 80km/h speed limits on SH5 between Rangitaiki and Eskdale at the following three locations: SH5 Tarawera Cafe, SH5 Turangakumu toTe Hāroto, SH5 Te Pōhue.
Not only are we restoring the 100km speed limits on these crucial stretches of roads, but we are four laning the Expressway and this has been the first road of National Significance to start.
Hawke’s Bay patients to benefit from major health investment
Hawke’s Bay patients will soon have better access to timely, quality cancer treatment and radiology services, with a $29.3 million Government investment to expand radiology capacity at Hawke’s Bay Hospital.
We know cancer affects thousands of New Zealanders and their families each year. We campaigned on improving healthcare in Hawke’s Bay, and this investment is a major step toward delivering on that commitment.
The Hawke’s Bay Radiology Refurbishment and Expansion Project will deliver:
Faster cancer treatment, reducing scan wait times from five weeks to two.
Shorter emergency department stays by improving access to CT scans.
Shorter wait times for specialist appointments and elective treatments.
Easier access to radiation oncology treatment with a new Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine, meaning 500 fewer people will need to travel outside the region for care.
The project will double scanning capacity, with a second CT scanner delivering up to 10,000 additional scans annually. Enabling works start this week, with Stage 1 completion expected by the end of 2025.
This expansion will help futureproof local healthcare services, ensuring timely, quality treatment for the people of Hawke’s Bay.
Kāinga Ora’s revises approach to wool carpets
Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid and this is great news for our wool industry and farmers.
I certainly welcome Kāinga Ora’s decision to go back out to market to seek bids from all carpet suppliers, including woollen carpets.
While it remains essential that Kāinga Ora delivers homes as cost-effectively as possible, it’s only fair that wool products are given the chance to compete for government contracts on an equal footing with nylon carpet suppliers.
There is a commitment under the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement to direct government agencies to prefer wool where practical and appropriate.
The coalition Government is proudly pro-wool and I am a staunch advocate for our wool industry and backing our farmers. We need to see the farm wool price increase and must continue to re-invigorate our wool industry.
Back to school: Teaching the basics brilliantly
“Back to school this week for my four children.”
As the 2025 school year kicks off, we’re starting an exciting new chapter for education in New Zealand and Hawke’s Bay.
All Year 0-8 students in state schools will benefit from a detailed, knowledge-rich curriculum and explicit teaching through structured literacy and structured maths.
We are focusing on teaching the basics brilliantly, so our children grow up confident and capable in literacy and numeracy.
I’m proud to see our government investing over $30 million in curriculum-aligned maths resources that will directly benefit 433,000 students.
124 schools and 21,229 school children - across Hawke’s Bay/Tairāwhiti would have received new resources to empower teachers and students with their mathematics.
From maths workbooks and tactile learning tools to online support, these resources will help students thrive and give parents greater visibility of their child’s progress.
We are also ensuring teachers get the professional learning and development they need to teach the new curriculum confidently.
As this rolls out, other 2025 plans include updating all curricula to Year 13, revitalising NCEA, and addressing property equity to support schools nationwide.
Our parents can have confidence this government is putting the foundations in place so their child can strive to do their best at school.
We are committed to lifting achievement and closing the equity gap in our education system, so all Kiwi kids have the best opportunities to thrive.
Reduction of households in emergency housing target reached five years early!
Our National-led Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing by 75 per cent, five years early.
The East Coast, which includes Hawke’s Bay, has seen a considerable drop in the number of households in emergency housing going from 273 in June 2023 to 75 in November 2024.
This is what we campaigned for, and this is what we have achieved.
Large scale use of emergency housing was one of the biggest public policy failures in the history of New Zealand.
National campaigned on returning the use of emergency housing to a last resort for those in genuine need.
The news means thousands of children who were previously growing up in dank motel rooms are now living in better homes.
We now need to sustain this progress over the long-term – to 2030 and beyond – to ensure households continue to thrive in stable affordable homes they can sustain rather than being stuck in emergency housing.
We’re increasing the supply of social housing and investing in more support products and services to get people into stable housing, including private rentals.
IN THE MEDIA
Hawke’s Bay vets celebrate the opening of a new after-hours clinic for pets - NZ Herald
Invest NZ reforms promise growth for Hawke’s Bay horticulture industry - NZ Herald
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Regards, Catherine
Catherine Wedd | MP for Tukituki
• catherine.weddmp@parliament.govt.nz
• 06 873 3819
• 129 Queen Street, Hastings 4122