“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection” – Winston Churchill
We are coming to the end of what has been a tough and difficult year for many. We know times are challenging which is why we have been working at pace to get our economy and country back on track.
One year on from taking office, there are small signs of light at the end of the tunnel.
On restoring law and order, we have seen a 3 per cent decline in overall victimisations reported to police and a 60 per cent decline in reported ram raids.
There has been a 22 per cent reduction in serious assaults and an 11 per cent reduction in aggravated robberies compared to a year ago. Our government’s back-to-basics policing approach has resulted in a 30 per cent increase in police foot patrols across the country.
On cost of living, annual inflation is down to 2.2 per cent, the lowest in 3.5 years, thanks to us reining in wasteful government spending and a return to the Reserve Bank’s single focus on fighting inflation.
On health, we are investing a record $30 billion into health to deliver faster cancer treatment, higher immunisation rates and shorter emergency waits. We are delivering on a campaign promise by funding 54 new medicines including 26 cancer treatments over four years benefitting 175,000 New Zealanders annually.
On housing, we have seen the number of people in emergency housing cut by 62 per cent from 3,141 households to 1,179 households over the past year. Stable, long-term housing contributes significantly to improved social, economic, and health outcomes.
We know that there is a lot of work before us to improve the prosperity of our communities so that all New Zealanders are better off from a change of government.
As we head into the festive season, I am mindful of the many families needing extra support over this period. In our community, there are many great local organisations supporting families with groceries, gifts or cash donations online. Please give generously if you can, to support those in need this Christmas.
Public Meeting on Wairau Valley Flood Mitigation
If you work in Wairau Valley or live in the Milford area and were impacted by the 2023 floods, you may be interested in a public meeting I am co-hosting with my colleague, Hon Simon Watts. Details are below.
