Welcome to ‘A message from Mike,’ the first edition for 2025.
In this newsletter, you will find an update on what has been happening in the past few months, links to Government press releases for further reading and the opportunity to provide me with feedback or ask for my help.
I have loved being busy for the start of 2025. There is much that I want to get done for the towns and people of Central Hawke’s Bay, Tararua, and Wairarapa, achieving this has kept me busy locally and further afield.
We are only three months into the year, and I have already welcomed the Prime Minister, four Ministers, and three MPs into our electorate this year. Bringing Ministers and other MPs here helps to directly highlight shared challenges for our rural communities; like land-use, attracting and retaining staff, and provision of infrastructure. It is also great to showcase and celebrate what is special about our area.
The Wairarapa electorate is about 12,000 square kilometres top to bottom, and it is rich with diversity - each area has its own unique challenges and opportunities that make it special. Over the past 18 months, my travels have taken me from one end to the other and back again, racking up over 60,000 kilometres in my trusty car. I have been fortunate to visit communities big and small, from the southernmost tip of Wairarapa to the northern reaches of Central Hawke’s Bay and into Tararua. This is how I can see what is happening out in our communities, and I am looking forward to getting out and about again this year.
Our Government recognises the importance of rural communities, knowing they are integral to the success of our main export earners – the primary industries and tourism. Rural communities reach into the heart of our towns here in the Wairarapa electorate, this is where many of our essential support services and crucial manufacturing businesses are located.
Recognising and Supporting Mental Health
Hon Matt Doocey
As New Zealand’s first ever Minister of Mental Health, it was important for me to introduce Matt to people in Tararua and Wairarapa who are doing outstanding work supporting our locals. One group we met with was the Rural Support Trust. We heard how long travel distances and isolation can impact the work they do. With rural support trust advisors attending from both Wairarapa and Tararua, it was fitting that we met at an amazing asset located close to the heart of both areas, Pūkaha, Mount Bruce.
I want every Kiwi to know help is close, and that the Minister recently announced funding for the Mental Health Foundation’s digital platforms.
Delivering on Our Roads
Rt. Hon Chris Luxon and Hon Chris Bishop
A week after Minister Doocey’s visit, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport were in the electorate for a ‘You Can Go Faster’ announcement.
Since becoming your local MP, the road speed of 80km between Masterton and Featherston was a topic I heard about many times, with travellers on these roads describing the impact on their business and social lives. Returning the speed limit on this road back to 100km between Masterton and Featherston was something we said we would do if elected and we have done this. This reversal of has been met with widespread appreciation, especially from those who use the road regularly.
You can read more about the announcement here: Speed limit reduction reversals begin | Beehive.govt.nz
Recognising Community – Veterans, Small Businesses and Buildings
Hon Chris Penk
Veterans, Small Businesses and Buildings were the themes of Minster Penk’s visit. Chris travelled throughout the electorate and met with people in towns from Featherston through to Dannevirke.
It was good to highlight some of the manufacturers linked to the agriculture sector and employing large numbers of our people that we have here in the Wairarapa electorate. Minister Penk acknowledges supporting the manufacturing industry will help grow our economy.
You can read more about Chris’ initiatives here: New programme to grow manufacturing workforce | Beehive.govt.nz
Chris reiterated that as Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, a critical part of his role is advocating for businesses across New Zealand. To inform his Ministerial work, he is on the lookout for real-life examples of things that are making it harder to do business and getting in the way of growth.
Showcasing Wairarapa - A Golden Shears Opportunity
Hon Nicola Willis, MP Miles Anderson, MP Tim Costley
Masterton is one year away from hosting the World Shearing Champs in 2026. In anticipation of this even bigger than usual event next year, I made sure that we had a Minister and couple of MPs come along to experience the skills, strength, and excitement of this must attend event. It is a quality experience and Hon Nicola Willis, Tim Costley and Miles Anderson enjoyed the warmth of our Wairarapa hosts and talent of the shearing crews. A big thank you to the many volunteers and organisers of Golden Shears, and congratulations to the winners.
Out and About in the Electorate
Meeting with Constituents
I enjoy meeting with people who live throughout the electorate and feel honoured when they take time out of their day to come and meet with me to discuss policies or personal situations. We are lucky to have good private locations from South Wairarapa up to Waipawa for me to hold these meetings.
A common theme that I heard was access to primary health care and orthopaedic surgery at Masterton hospital. After Hon Simeon Brown became Minister for Health, I shared with him what I had been advised by people waiting for surgery.
I am thankful to the Minister of Health for coming to Masterton and meeting with health officials at Masterton Hospital and Masterton Medical in February. A recent announcement from Wairarapa hospital gives a new strategy and focus on reducing Orthopaedic surgery wait times.
This example reiterates the importance of being an MP, hearing from constituents and taking action with Ministers where I can so that my constituents have better lives. My constituent clinics are a great way to directly get this feedback through to me.
My Facebook Events page is a good place to find where I will be coming to a ‘constituent clinic’ near you.
You can also contact my office to find a time for us to catchup. Click here to email my office or phone on 0800 676453.
School Visits
Since the start of the school year, I have made efforts to get to as many schools as possible. The Government has taken decisive action to address better outcomes for students, and I am keen to see and hear how this is working in schools. This includes the inequitable state of school property, attracting skilled teachers to address a teaching shortage, and our drive on improving literacy and numeracy.
Not only is it good to meet with the educators and school leaders to hear about these changes, it is also a joy to chat with the students and these conversations often take interesting turns. One such chat I had with a group of five-year olds at Waipawa Primary School went from lighthouses to new builds, to helicopters in the blink of an eye. A refreshing pace! It is good to know our focus on literacy will help capture this creativity down on paper.
At another school, I also saw firsthand a piece of a new build that had a surprising price attached to it.
Our schools are full of potential leaders. At a visit to Masterton Intermediate School, I had the opportunity to present my thoughts on leadership to their student leaders for 2025. I found this group to be an impressive cohort recognising many different talents and skills.
My Work in Wellington
Primary Production Select Committee
Banking enquiry
In partnership with the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, we are continuing to look closely at rural banking issues, including competition, lending rates and access to services to name a few. This inquiry is ongoing, it is vitally important that we hear what the issues are, understand current practices and see what changes might be needed to have a system which is transparent and equitable.
We recently had the opportunity to ask some tough questions when we had the four big banks in for a full day of hearings, believe me when I say that I am more than happy to ask these questions.
Supporting Economic Growth
As part of the Primary Production Select Committee, I am involved in crucial work to help the primary production sector work towards recognising potential for economic growth.
In February, the Primary Production Select committee was in Nelson where we engaged with local primary producers. With fishing and aquaculture being so important to the local economy it was interesting to see opportunities to grow their ‘blue’ economy. This resonated with me too, with fishing being a part of our coastal environment here.
We spent the next day in Blenheim, looking at some of what they are doing in their wine industry and what the current and future opportunities for economic growth are. Again, it was easy to make the links with the wine industry in the Wairarapa electorate.
Our Future Prime Minister?
Youth MP
I am looking forward to hosting my first ever Youth MP in Wellington for the 2025 Youth Parliament. This experience, held every three years, gives 16-18 year olds an opportunity to develop leadership skills, influence government decision-making, and have their voices heard as a Youth MP.
I put a call out for interested young people in our electorate to apply to be my Youth MP. I was absolutely blown away by the number of keen applicants, from Central Hawke’s Bay, through to South Wairarapa. (There were many others keen to be my Youth MP, but they were about 30 years shy of the age restriction).
I interviewed all the applicants which allowed me the opportunity to meet them face to face, albeit online. I was delighted with the high calibre and enthusiastic young people; however, this made the process for choosing my Youth MP very challenging. Talking with each applicant in person gave me good hope for the future of the country in terms of people passionate about engaging with politics and being sound leaders.
I look forward to sharing my Youth MP’s experience with you as the Youth Parliament term progresses.
Wairarapa electorate boundary proposed change
On 25 March 2025, the Representation Commission released proposed electorate boundaries and names for 2026. The commission is asking for public comment on these suggestions.
The review is driven by population numbers and the need to ensure each electorate has about the same number of people living in it.
The lower North Island is one of the areas where the most change is proposed. To address the reconfiguration of other electorates in the lower North Island, there is a proposed addition to the Wairarapa electorate. The community of Ashhurst, currently in the Rangitīkei electorate, would be moved to the Wairarapa electorate. Adding 3,200 people to the electorate.
You can review the full proposal and give feedback at Vote NZ Proposed changes | Vote NZ
Here to Help
My team and I are always ready to hear what you think or to help.
Reach us by emailing mike.butterickmp@ parliament.govt.nz or calling 0800 676 453.
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Best wishes,
Mike Butterick