Our region really came alive with Art Deco and Waitangi Day celebrations, and with our harvest season well-underway it was great to visit orchards and meet the RSE workers keeping the fruit-bowl of New Zealand ticking along.
It is also good to meet the innovators and celebrating what our region has to offer including our growers, our youth, and our people.
OUT AND ABOUT
I celebrated Waitangi Day by starting with a hikoi from Waitangi Park to the banks of the Clive River, where one of the signings of the Treaty of Waitangi took place.
Then it was time for the Waitangi Family Celebrations at the Sports Park with whanau from across Heretaunga uniting.
A big thank you to Bayden Barber - Ngāti Kahungunu Chair and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc for organising such a fabulous day for us all.
It was wonderful to celebrate the rising stars and graduates of our Hawke’s Bay Horticulture Sector.
It was a privilege to speak at the Hawke’s Bay Fruit Grower Awards and recognise all the talent which makes our industry such a success story.
Congratulations to all the amazing award recipients.
I enjoyed spending time with the team from Kiwi Crunch for the first pick of Piqa Red Pears!
This is a high value pear variety which is taking off around the world – grown, right here, in beautiful Hawke’s Bay.
The season is a few weeks early this year and our Hawke’s Bay apples and pears are looking amazing! So excited to support our innovative Exporters - to drive economic growth in NZ.
It was amazing to meet the incredibly talented bunch who are off to the World Robotics Champs in Houston in April!
The First NZ Black Bots are spending hours training and busy fundraising in preparation to hit the global stage and go up against the best in the world!
I was so impressed to see these talented students in action and Lucknow Principal Brendon teaching them the valuable skills needed. A huge commitment from students, parents and teachers.
Good luck to you all as you make Hawke’s Bay proud taking on the world.
What an amazing Art Deco weekend. Stunner of a day, and we had our Arts and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith visit! I was fortunate to join the Vintage Car Parade and the Great Gatsby event and was joined by huge crowds. So good for our region.
A little more than two years ago Australasia’s largest wool scourer Woolworks was fully under water and silt.
Now they are fully back up and operational and delivering for NZ farmers - optimistic about the future of wool and working hard to ensure farmers can increase the wool cheque!
Our government is backing our wool industry, and I was excited to visit Nigel and his team at Woolworks and learn about all the innovations they have planned to add value to our wool industry.
Well done Woolworks for hanging in there and believing in NZ wool - a bright future here in Hawke’s Bay.
I love catching up with High School students across Tukituki - all interested in Youth Parliament and this incredible, unique opportunity.
It was a privilege to speak to students at both Woodford House and Lindisfarne College as I search for the 2025 Tukituki Youth MP to represent me in Parliament.
I’m looking forward to meeting more inspiring young leaders in our community before applications close on the 28 February.
I’ve been out visiting schools to see how the new structured maths books are going, and the feedback is positive.
Over 500,000 new structured maths books have been delivered to schools across the country.
Havelock North Primary has been using structured maths books for a few years now, unlike many schools which are introducing them for the first time.
Principal and Deputy Principal Nick Reed and Jenny Cameron talked me through the new curriculum and the benefits of structured maths to lift performance in the classroom.
I have seen firsthand the difference it has made with my own kids, so I am excited to see structured maths making a big difference for all kids across NZ.
I celebrated National Lamb Day at Parliament. It was very-well received.
We produce the best lamb in the world and love backing our hardworking farmers across NZ. Agriculture is the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, with sheep and beef farmers alone contributing over $10 billion in exports to the economy last year.
This is equal to $3,300 in income for every Kiwi household.
The sector isn’t just crucial to our goal of doubling exports by value in ten years -- it also supports 76,000 jobs across New Zealand and is leading the way in sustainable farming.
It's great to have Hawke's Bay lamb and fruit hitting the front page headlines this week. I am always working hard to get our region and the amazing work of our growers and farmers recognised!
So it's good to see Tukituki fruit and lamb showcased.
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
OCR DROP
For many Kiwis, the past couple of years have been a real challenge.
Rising interest rates, inflation, and the overall cost of living have hit households and businesses hard. But the latest announcement from the Reserve Bank – a 50-basis point drop in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) – signals a turning point.
It's the fourth reduction since last August, and it brings the OCR down to 3.75 percent. What does this mean for you?
In simple terms, it means you could see more money in your pocket in the coming months. For homeowners with mortgages, lower interest rates are likely to bring down repayments.
For many, this drop is not just about relief in the short term, but a sense of stability. A drop of almost two percentage points over six months could make a tangible difference in what families and businesses can do with their finances.
It’s also a sign of confidence for businesses. A stable and more predictable economic environment means that companies are more likely to invest, expand, and hire. Last week, the BNZ and Business NZ reported that growth in manufacturing had risen to its highest level since September 2022, a clear sign that confidence is returning. This kind of optimism is key – when businesses feel confident, they grow, and when they grow, it creates jobs and stimulates the economy.
MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
In our first year, we took decisive action to refocus the Reserve Bank solely on inflation and reined in wasteful spending, making its job of managing inflation easier.
Interest rates finally came down, and inflation returned to its target band of 1-3%, reducing pressure on families and business budgets. Wages grew faster than inflation, and our tax and FamilyBoost packages started providing much-needed relief to Kiwis, helping the squeezed middle class.
StatsNZ data released recently reaffirmed the Government’s plan. Household living cost inflation is down to 3 per cent, compared to 8.2 per cent in December 2022.
While New Zealanders are still doing it tough, the pressure is starting to ease – a sign the Government’s efforts are working.
SUPERMARKETS ON NOTICE
The Government is seeking to bolster supermarket competition to deliver a better deal for shoppers.
The market lacks competition with three large entities, two of whom don’t compete in the same island, effectively controlling 82 per cent of the market.
We need more competition to put downward pressure on prices and deliver a better deal for shoppers.
WAIKARE GORGE REALINGMENT
Our government has just announced funding for the Waikare Gorge realignment project, which is so exciting for our region!
This will ensure a resilient and safe connection between Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.
The Waikare Gorge, has been prone to slips for years and the gorge bridge was destroyed in Cyclone Gabrielle severing the connection between Hawke’s Bay and Wairoa for months, until a Bailey bridge opened across the river.
It’s time to fix it and build a resilient road which will be so significant for our region and drive more economic growth and productivity.
FARMERS CONFIDENT IN GOVERNMENT POLICIES
Our government is boosting growth and restoring confidence in the farming sector. The latest Federated Farmers Farm Confidence Survey shows confidence has surged 68 points since July 2024. This represents the largest improvement since the question was first introduced in 2016, reflecting new optimism within the sector.
We’ve been cutting red tape, speeding up innovation and productivity, and improving support for rural communities with better access to services and infrastructure.
And now we are starting to see the green shoots.
The primary sector is the backbone of Hawke’s Bay’s economy, and a strong primary sector means more jobs, fair wages, and a better economy for everyone.
Last year alone food and fibre exports contributed $10,600 in income for every Kiwi. By using smart farming methods, improving rural services, and growing our export value, we can keep food prices stable, protect jobs, and build a strong future for New Zealand.
Looking ahead, optimism is continuing to grow. Farmers' net expectations for the future have increased by 29 points since January 2024, with 23% of farmers expecting better conditions over the next year. This marks the highest level of confidence seen since January 2014.
IN THE MEDIA
Farmers Weekly NZ February 27 2025 by AgriHQ - Issuu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMRZ1xQVl-U
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/542365/coalition-defends-return-of-pay-cuts-for-partial-strike.
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Regards, Catherine
Regards, Catherine