King’s Birthday Honours
My congratulations to all who received Kings Birthday Honours on the long weekend. In the Papakura electorate we acknowledge Richard Balcom-Langridge of Brookby who received an ONZM for his services to business, transport, hospitality, environment restoration and support for community causes.
It is wonderful to acknowledge people who go far beyond the ordinary, beyond their paid work to volunteer their skills and help to benefit and support our families and communities across New Zealand. My thanks to all who do this whether they receive formal recognition or not.
Space
Space is proving to be a sector that is adding considerable value to the New Zealand economy as the sector and the associated advanced aviation sector combined, added more than $2.5 billion to the New Zealand economy last year, as a report I recently released shows.
The Deloitte/Space TrailBlazer Innovation for Growth, Charting the Space and Advanced Aviation Sectors report showed the space sector contributed $2.47b to the economy in the 2023-24 financial year and $480million was contributed by the advanced aviation sector, which includes emerging aviation technologies.
This is a success story for New Zealand as these two sectors are creating jobs for New Zealanders and attracting billions of dollars in investment into New Zealand that will drive further innovation and scientific advancement. Last year they supported 17,000 mostly local, jobs in space manufacturing, operations and applications through commercial, home-grown operations.
The work goes on in research labs, in drone manufacture, and around rocket launches and launch pads.
There are some amazing companies and an immense depth of talent working in the space and advanced aviation sectors throughout the country.
The Government is supporting developments through a light-touch regulatory approach. We have natural advantages of clear skies and geography, and we want to give innovators both local and international, the flexibility to test their ideas and continue driving growth.
Encouraging growth will allow New Zealand to meet the target of doubling these sectors by 2030 which should be achievable if the 9 percent annual growth continues.
During my visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, I joined a panel discussion on Cyber, Undersea and Outer-Space Defence Challenges.
As part of the Asia Tech X Singapore Summit, I participated in an engagement hosted by Singapore Minister of Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo and met with GovTech Singapore. These engagements were opportunities to discuss topics of shared interest in digital government and technology.
These discussions will help New Zealand stay at the forefront of technological innovation and foster international relationships that are crucial to knowledge and information sharing.
While I was attending the Shangri-La dialogue for defence ministers in Singapore, I heard about the US President's Golden Dome $175billion project which would create a satellite network to detect and intercept missiles.
I have agreed with this idea of creating a defence mechanism that would allow America to defend themselves and possibly New Zealand in the future because the USA believes it is needed. Interestingly it seems to echo that Strategic Defence Initiative that was proposed by Ronald Reagan in the 1980’s which was also a missile defence system.
While talking about the USA, it is a relief to report that although the US has said that the Five Eyes Allies should lift their annual defence spend to 3.5 per cent of GDP, it seems that there is understanding by my US counterparts that 2 per cent is enough for New Zealand at this time. As we know, a couple of previous governments have allowed our defence capabilities to degrade so now we are in catch up mode and the US seems comfortable with the growth to 2 per cent that we can manage in the short term. It is noted that the Australian Prime Minister is saying it will take eight years for it to get its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.
The Prime Minister and I recognise that this year’s Defence Budget is a starting point and that New Zealand needs to be prepared to spend more over the years ahead.
Health Budget gets a boost
The Prime Minister and Minister of Health announced that Budget 2025 will invest $164 million over four years to expand urgent and after-hours healthcare services across the country.
This means 98 per cent of New Zealanders will be able to receive in-person, trained, urgent care within one hour’s drive of their homes.
Health NZ will focus on expanding community-based urgent care to help ease pressure on hospitals and keep emergency departments wait times down for those with the most serious conditions.
More access to out of hours urgent care will support the almost 5000 people who need medical care every day and their condition or injury can’t wait until the following day or after a public holiday for medical attention from the GP.
In particular, Budget 2025 will fund a new 24/7 urgent care service identified for Counties Manukau, providing more accessible after-hours options and easing pressure on our region’s already busy emergency departments, particularly at Middlemore Hospital.
In a nutshell, Budget 2025 allows funding for
- 100 clinical placements for overseas-trained doctors
- Recruitment incentives for up to 400 graduate nurses annually for five years
- 100 additional doctor training places over the course of this Government
- Up to 50 graduate doctors training in primary care annually
- Up to 120 training places for nurse practitioners in primary care
- Accelerated tertiary education for up to 120 primary care nurses
- A $285 million uplift to funding over three years for general practice from 1 July 2025, in addition to the capitation uplift general practice receives annually
- Better access to 24/7 digital services.
Being good world citizens and providing citizens with the essentials to be healthy, educated and safe, are some of the goals that I am working to support and to provide for my constituents and my community.
