The past month has been jam packed – with some particularly good news for Selwyn
coming just last week.
Dear John,
The past month has been jam packed – with some particularly good news for Selwyn
coming just last week. The flooding that hit us brought a soggy start to May,
but the announcement of the Growth Budget certainly ended the month on a high.
I've collated some of the most important government announcements that will have
a major impact across our district. From the exciting Selwyn school properties
package, to our overhaul of the RMA.
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EDUCATION
I am delighted to announce that the Government is delivering the country’s most
significant investment in school property right here in Selwyn. The $108 million
will deliver a new school, three expansions, 14 new classrooms at existing
schools, and land purchases for future new schools. That includes:
* Ten classrooms at Lincoln Primary School
* A 12-classroom expansion at Ararira Springs Primary School in Lincoln,
including two new learning support spaces
* A six classroom expansion at Te Rohotu Whio Primary School in Rolleston
* An expansion at Te Rau Horopito, including 12 classrooms, six outside
technology spaces and multipurpose space
* A 12-classroom expansion and admin spaces at the new campus for Rolleston
College
* The purchase of a site in Prebbleton for a primary school, and funding to
start construction on the first stage, which includes 12 teaching spaces, an
admin area and multipurpose space, and
* A site in Lincoln for a new primary school.
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BUSINESSES
A major new tax incentive to encourage businesses to invest, grow the economy,
and lift wages is now in place, following the delivery of Budget 2025.
Investment Boost means businesses that buy machinery or tools or equipment or
vehicles or technology can now deduct 20 per cent of that cost from taxable
income – meaning a much lower tax bill.
This change will benefit farmers, tradies, hairdressers, manufacturers, and
other businesses by helping them invest in productivity improving assets. It is
all designed to help firms become more competitive and, therefore, able to lift
workers’ wages.
The Treasury and Inland Revenue estimate Investment Boost will improve economic
growth, lifting New Zealand’s GDP by 1 per cent, wages by 1.5 per cent and our
capital stock by 1.6 per cent over the next 20 years, with around half these
gains expected in the first five years.
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BACKING FARMERS
RMA CONSULTATION
Consultation is now open on a sweeping overhaul of farming regulations!
Our government backs farmers and growers, and we have heard loud and clear that
the RMA has made it harder to farm - with overly restrictive, confusing, and
duplicative regulations.
This Government is getting out of the way and backing rural New Zealand with a
common-sense approach to freshwater regulation. We’re streamlining consenting
processes, removing duplication to empower farmers and growers —because they
know their land and water best.
We also know that New Zealand is dependent on domestic production of fresh
vegetables, but growers have told us that current rules and planning processes
pose a risk to their ability to provide these vegetables.
We are therefore consulting on two options to enable commercial vegetable
growing around New Zealand – either a new objective in the National Policy
Statement for Freshwater Management, or developing new national standards that
permit commercial vegetable growing.
We are keen to hear from farmers and growers across the country with their
thoughts on the proposed changes to horticulture, as well as the rest of the
National Direction changes – at the end of the day, they are the end user, and
we need rules and regulations that work for them.
Have your say here.
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GROWTH AND RURAL WELLBEING
To further strengthen the sector’s resilience, Budget 2025 includes a new focus
on driving growth and rural wellbeing through a series of targeted grassroots
investments:
* $246 million over four years in a new Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) to
help lift food and fibre sector productivity, profitability, and resilience;
* $2 million over four years in a contestable rural wellbeing fund;
* $1m extra over four years for Rural Support Trusts and other organisations to
support farmers and growers;
* $400,000 over four years in direct grants for New Zealand’s A&P shows;
* Ongoing support for catchment groups of $36 million over the next four years,
through the Ministry for Primary Industries;
* $250,000 for the 2025/26 financial year for Rural Women New Zealand to boost
its on-the-ground support for rural communities.
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HEALTH
Budget 2025 will support those who rely on prescriptions. New Zealanders will
soon be able to receive 12-month prescriptions for their medicines, delivering
savings to patients on long-term medications. Currently, doctors and other
prescribers can only prescribe most medicines for a maximum of three months at a
time. Patients must then pay their GP for a follow-up appointment or to issue
a repeat prescription every three months.
I know that acquiring residential care for loved ones has been a big concern for
many people who live in the district. In Budget 2025, new funding will give
older people greater access to aged residential care and longer care outside of
hospitals. This investment of $24 million over four years will help people, who
don’t need continued hospital treatment, to move to other care places in the
community, including aged residential care.
We’re also supporting our disabled community with improved residential care,
thanks to a $240 million four-year funding boost.
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FLOODING
At the start of the month the Selwyn district was hammered by wet weather,
causing severe flooding. I want to commend the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) volunteers, emergency service crews, and contractors who worked
diligently to keep everyone safe – and want to acknowledge those whose homes and
properties have been damaged. Remediating flood damage is a long, tiring
process. If you need support, please reach out to my office and we will do our
best to assist you where possible.
The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Hon Mark Mitchell, flew down
to see the flooding and to talk to the NEMA team at the Emergency Operations
Centre. The Minister is concerned about the complexity and lack of
accountability across councils and agencies – which has been an ongoing
frustration that I share with landowners and residents. As a result, he has now
written to all councils across Canterbury asking them to advise him of their
decision making processes, and what regulatory support they may need to ensure
early intervention and flood prevention.
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YOUTH MP LUCY
I'm delighted to introduce you to my Selwyn Youth MP, Lucy Garner. Lucy is a
Year 12 student at Rolleston College and is passionate about representing young
people across the district and ensuring their voices are heard. You may see her
at events with me over the following months, be sure to say hello!
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HERE TO HELP
As always, my team and I are here and available to help.
You can get in touch with us by emailing
[email protected]
[email protected], phone 03 344 2800, or pop into the office in
Rolleston Square between Monday and Fridays, 10:00am - 4:00pm.
Kind regards,
Hon Nicola Grigg
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New Zealand
Authorised by Nicola Grigg, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
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