Dear John,

Prime Minister=E2=80=99s Space Prize - Student Endeavour Award

It is particularly exciting to announce that Year 12 Southland Girls High S=
chool student Sophie Ineson has been awarded the $50,000 Space Prize - Stud=
ent Endeavour Award by Prime Minister Chris Luxon and myself, as Space Mini=
ster.=C2=A0
=C2=A0
Sophie=E2=80=99s prize is for her project that focuses on how wounds heal i=
n space. She's designed ways to prevent infection within the context of mic=
rogravity, low-pressure, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and lunar dust. She =
considered both medical and engineering concepts which will be essential to=
space exploration and targeted the goal of developing new wound dressings =
that incorporate natural materials, sourced from Southland, for future Arte=
mis missions.=C2=A0

Panel members were impressed with her initiative, determination, and critic=
al thinking, and the sheer amount of testing she managed to complete and an=
alyse. The Prime Minister was impressed with Sophie=E2=80=99s forward think=
ing and sophisticated approach which holds great promise for a space applic=
ation as well as the future of health here on Earth.

Chief executive of Dawn Aerospace, Christchurch Stefan Powell won the Excel=
lence Award and a $100,000 prize for his company=E2=80=99s ongoing research=
and development.

Papakura High School Prize giving

More locally, I was pleased that the Judith Collins Cup for Leadership was =
awarded to Keira Barron Morton this year. Keira is involved in sports leade=
rship within the School and also with Counties Manukau Sport teams where sh=
e is a committed referee and team manager for boys=E2=80=99 rugby. She has =
a very busy life and is great role model for others both within the School =
and the wider community. I congratulate her and wish her lots of success in=
her future leadership roles.
=C2=A0
Strengthening the role of Kiwisaver

Last weekend the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that a National=
government will gradually increase employees=E2=80=99 and employers=E2=80=
=99 KiwiSaver contributions to 6 per cent each, so that by 2032, 12 per cen=
t of the earnings of each of us will be building a nest egg for a retiremen=
t with better choices. It won=E2=80=99t be compulsory to contribute 6 per c=
ent because for some people at certain times of their life, that=E2=80=99s =
too high. =C2=A0However, the incentive is that if you can manage it, your e=
mployer will match you and eventually retirement will be a welcome, positiv=
e and worry-free option. =C2=A0If you=E2=80=99d like to read the Prime Mini=
ster=E2=80=99s speech, it=E2=80=99s [here]([link removed]
/20251123-hon-christopher-luxon-national-to-lift-kiwisaver-contributions?ut=
m_source=3DKlaviyo&utm_medium=3Dcampaign&utm_campaign=3DPM%20-%202025_11_23=
&_kx=3DhOSeuXUwOXOkAqL98Hvs1FrbFEs4FnsFqzFSkvPCn2Q.VmYELi).

Tariff Relief=C2=A0
=C2=A0
As many New Zealanders are working hard to keep their businesses and employ=
ment going and growing at the moment, it is great news that the USA adminis=
tration is removing reciprocal tariffs from a range of New Zealand agricult=
ural products including beef, and offal products, kiwifruit, avocadoes, ber=
ries and some fruit. =C2=A0These products represent about 25 per cent of ou=
r trade with the USA which amounts to about NZ$2.21billion annually.=C2=A0

This development will be welcomed by exporters, farmers and growers for who=
m there will be a $330million saving in the proposed additional tariffs now=
reduced back to, on average, 0.3 per cent.

Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay is realistic that other tariffs remain =
in place, and therefore he is continuing to work with his US trade counterp=
art USTR Jamieson Greer to make the case that New Zealand=E2=80=99s trading=
relationship with the US is balanced and that the additional reciprocal ta=
riffs on other New Zealand exports should also be removed.

Promoting Growth through the Space and Advanced Aviation sectors

I have been in a position to promote our space and advanced aviation sector=
s internationally, in recent times. These two sectors are a big part of New=
Zealand=E2=80=99s rapidly growing technology production sector. Because of=
their potential scale, ambition and relevance, I see these sectors as the =
key to increasing productivity, creating employment and increasing business=
opportunities for innovative people here in Papakura and across New Zealan=
d.
Recently, at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney,=
I met twenty companies and entities representing New Zealand=E2=80=99s spa=
ce and advanced aviation sectors who were there to demonstrate and sell the=
ir products to international buyers.

At the[New Zealand Aerospace Summit]([link removed]) i=
n Christchurch, I spoke on the economic report that shows that space sector=
revenues were worth $2.68 billion in the five years to 2024, and the advan=
ced aviation sector had a total estimated revenue of $530 million in 2024.

Our space and advanced aviation sectors are more than just rockets, drones =
and satellites. They are about advanced manufacturing, AI and autonomy, ear=
th monitoring and next-generation mobility.=C2=A0

Rebuilding the economy takes time but cutting wasteful spending, focussing =
on reducing inflation and mortgage lending rates, delivering tax relief, gr=
owing tourism and working hard to secure trade deals with India, UAE and ot=
her countries is working. Recent figures show job vacancies have increased =
especially in tourism, hospitality, infrastructure and education and this m=
eans our economy is recovering. We can expect more improvements, a lift in =
wages and more signs that Kiwis can look towards a better economic future w=
ith better health services and greater success in education for our kids, i=
n 2026 and beyond.

All the best,

Judith

Hon Judith Collins KC
MP for Papakura

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=C2=A0
New Zealand National Party
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Thorndon, Wellington 6011
New Zealand
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nd, then it is a fundraising event with proceeds, after costs, being a dona=
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Authorised by J de Joux, 41 Pipitea St, Wellington.

=C2=A9 2025 | All rights reserved.

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