Dear John,

In my visits to support services, the high levels of need in many communities are obvious. Fortunately, foodbanks – like South Kaipara Good Food which I visited this week – exist to meet demand, but many report they are struggling to keep up. High housing costs are eating up household budgets and there’s no sign of relief while Labour is in government. Yesterday, data was released showing that food prices have increased by an average of 8.3 per cent in the last 12 months – including a 16 per cent increase in the price of fruit and vegetables. If the Government had a clue about how to fix this, it would. 

My many visits to charities could be dispiriting. Instead, the commitment of organisers and volunteers is uplifting, and the situation reinforces my conviction that New Zealand can do so much better than this.

Restructuring Wellington bureaucracies should not be the Government’s priority right now. Labour’s wasteful spending is fuelling inflation, not tackling it. Tax relief, which a National government will provide, will permanently increase people’s take-home pay. A bigger economy will pay for better services.

In other news this week, the Government released its proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions created by farming. I summarise National’s response in this short video, but let me make a couple of things clear here.

National backs farmers and growers. National is also committed to New Zealand reaching its greenhouse gas reduction target of “net zero carbon” by 2050. To achieve that, agricultural emissions need to come down.

For about three years, there’s been a consensus building on how to tackle agricultural emissions. But when the Government’s proposals were released this week, crucial elements of what had enabled consensus, were gone. By the Government’s own figures, 20 per cent of beef and sheep farm capacity will not survive its emissions proposals. That’s unacceptable to farmers, our rural communities, and to National.

New Zealanders standard of living depends on the primary sector. To consider a substantial slice of it as collateral damage on the way to net zero is reckless, harsh and something National will vigorously oppose.

Technology is a better way to reduce emissions than bankruptcy.  No-one is going to solve climate change by moving farming from New Zealand to countries where farming is less carbon efficient. 

National will oppose the Government’s proposals which would decimate our sheep and beef sector while shipping emissions offshore. There’s a better way. A successful and enduring solution will be one that has the sector’s support. The Government needs to listen to the sector’s feedback and reflect it in its next round of proposals.

Finally, this week, thanks to everyone who’s so far sent in a pothole picture. There are some shockers! No wonder people are saying New Zealand’s roads have never been in a worse condition. National’s transport spokesman Simeon Brown will pick Pothole of the Week and publish it here, on Sunday.

Simeon also got noticed by the UK’s Daily Mail with his frank views on climate change protesters blocking traffic this week. I respect people’s right to protest, but inconveniencing thousands of people, is unlikely to win the protesters any support.

Have a good weekend,

Christopher

Nicola Willis: Food prices keep crushing Kiwis

Data released by Statistics New Zealand this week show that food prices have increased by an average of 8.3 per cent in the last 12 months, which included a 16 per cent increase in the price of fruit and vegetables.

It’s impossible to get ahead under Labour. Food is up, rent is up, and petrol is up. With wage growth lagging inflation so significantly, it’s no surprise that Kiwis are getting pummelled.

The obvious cause is widespread labour shortages. Bottlenecks in the economy, like the Government’s failed immigration settings, are constraining growth and driving prices up higher.

Kiwis finally deserve a real economic plan, not just more spending.

National is absolutely committed to reining in inflation. We’ll eliminate bottlenecks to growth, stop wasteful spending and adjust tax brackets for inflation.

Simeon Brown: Check out our Pothole of the Week campaign

Kiwis are sick and tired of all the potholes peppering New Zealand’s roads which are damaging vehicles and causing havoc for motorists. We’re hearing from people every day who say the roads are the worst they’ve ever seen them.

We’re asking Kiwis to sign our petition and send us pictures of the potholes plaguing their community so that the Transport Minister can see just how bad things are. Each week, we will highlight the worst pothole, with the aim of getting the Government to sort the issue.