Dear John,

There have been quite a few significant steps for the Waitaki in recent weeks.

Firstly, congratulations to all the elected representatives from the recent
local body elections. Thank you to everyone who has served on the Waitaki’s
various councils over the previous term. Thank you too to all the people who put
their hand up for candidacy. Representing your community is a major undertaking
and it is good to see so many fine people keen to do so.

I’m looking forward to working alongside the elected mayors and councillors that
are now to represent our region as we push for the best results for everyone in
the Waitaki.

Another major development from the weekend was the big boost of confidence for
the Waitaki agricultural sector, which our community centres around. The
announcement regarding methane reduction targets is a significant win for
farmers in the Waitaki and across New Zealand.

Farming is the backbone of not only the Waitaki region, but also New Zealand. It
is great to see the balanced approach to climate policy that prioritises our
agricultural sector while addressing the issue of climate change. This policy,
backed by all three coalition parties and key industry bodies, provides the
certainty and confidence our food producers need to thrive.

One of the most reassuring aspects of this new policy is the clear commitment to
no farm taxes, ever. We have ruled out a pricing system for on-farm emissions
that could have jeopardised our farms and sent jobs overseas. Instead, we are
focusing on achieving reductions in methane emissions through partnership and
industry leadership. This approach allows us to work alongside major players in
the industry, such as Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms, who are already leading
the way in sustainable practices. 

Now, I have an ask regarding getting my face beside the road. To let people know
who represents them and how to contact me, I’m wanting to put up a few signs
around the district. If you have property alongside our main highways and would
be happy to have a sign with a photo of me and my contact details installed near
the roadside, please contact me and my team at [email protected]
[email protected]. The signs will be sturdy and well presented; here
is an example of what we are looking to put up:

 

Please get in touch if you're able to help install signage near main roads
around the Waitaki

 

Getting around the Waitaki (in person) is a great part of my job. Recently we
had a big attendance at a meeting of the Rural Nats in mid-Canterbury’s Lahgmor
Westerfield Hall where a major topic of discussion was the Resource Management
Act (RMA).

 

The National Party has heard loud and clear about issues with consents, and a
major part of this government term has been focusing on replacing the RMA.
 Ministers continue to receive concerning reports of councils across the country
applying stringent, unnecessary, and burdensome requirements when issuing new
consents, particularly for our farmers and growers.

 

There is no shortage of New Zealanders with great ideas for exciting projects,
but they face too many obstacles bringing them to life. The sum our actions in
this quarter of the year will help get things moving. Growth will boost job
opportunities and help increase incomes around the country.

 

The planning system we will introduce to Parliament this quarter will enable
farmers, building owners and businesses to do more with their own property,
cutting through the reams of red tape that have been holding them back.

 

The Minister for RMA Reform, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister for the
Environment have set clear expectations to all Regional and Unitary Councils to
take a pragmatic approach when issuing consents, ahead of the transition to the
new planning system. Our country relies on our rural producers. At a time of
economic challenges, councils should be doing all they can to unlock economic
growth, not stymie it.

 

Later this year, a regime to transition consents into the new system will be
released. Until then, we expect councils to use this discretion where
appropriate. Farmers should not be punished for what amounts to bureaucratic
process.

 

Another important process taking place is the clinical services planning being
undertaken by Health NZ for the Otago Central Lakes – which is essentially the
combined areas of the Queenstown-Lakes and Central Otago district councils. This
is significant because to green-light new health infrastructure and services,
the first step is always a clinical services plan which provides the foundation
for future decisions.

 

Health NZ recently held a meeting in Queenstown which was well attended by
health practitioners and advocates from our region. The clinical services plan
is on track to be completed by December and from there I expect to see
implementation of increased health services begin.

 

A recent briefing from Health NZ was well attended by health practitioners and
advocates

 

Bringing more public health services closer to home has been something I and our
neighboring MP Joseph Mooney have been working hard on since the last election.
The Central Lakes Health Services group we are part of alongside local mayors
has made some excellent headway towards improving public health services for
inland Otago and it is great to see Health NZ acknowledging the need and working
towards it.

 

I wish you all the best for the remainder of spring. Please sing out if you’re
able to assist with getting some signs up around our region.

 

Many thanks

Miles

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