MP Views: Tough on crime, water storage, Easter trading laws, and vocational training

Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay who was seriously injured.

On the same day, a baby was murdered in Hamilton, soon followed by additional reports of a child allegedly murdered in Auckland. This violent loss of life in such a short space of time when most New Zealanders were marking the start of the New Year is heartbreaking.

As a Government, we will continue to prioritise resourcing for our Police to tackling violent crime but what I want to recognize is the outstanding response from the frontline men and women who serve our communities.

It has been one of the most challenging starts to a New Year than I can recall, and yet without wavering, our Police maintain the highest levels of professionalism. Staff rallied from around the country to support their Nelson based colleagues to be able to mourn their loss. And throughout the country the blue line continued to make sure peace was maintained and the law was upheld.

Getting tough on crime is only possible because of those that get up every day and put on their uniform and take up the challenge.Water storage and water security are not issues that occupy breaking news bulletins or election campaign headlines. However, these projects are of critical importance to regional horticultural and farming industries and represents what New Zealand First is all about – regional development.

The Tukituki Water Security Project in Hawke’s Bay, Matawii Kaikohe Reservoir, or the Raukokore water storage facility in the Eastern Bay of Plenty are examples of projects that have received government support through the likes of the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) and more recently, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF); both funds established by New Zealand First coalition agreements and overseen by the regional champion – Shane Jones.

I had the privilege of opening the spectacular Raukokore facility and gained an understanding of how the project connected with the neighbouring river and supported the gold kiwifruit orchard. I also went to the local marae to open their newly built emergency centre and learned from Kaumatua about the project’s impact on the local community. More jobs and business opportunities, housing development, and the physical change to the look of their town.

These tangible results have given young people a reason to stay in their community and can change the way Kiwis think about regional development. It’s exciting to think about the difference we can continue to make to small regional towns and provincial cities.

Because we know, when regional communities thrive, New Zealand thrives.During the final weeks of the 2024 Parliamentary year, two Bills were presented to the house that proposed changes to trading and broadcasting laws around Easter.

I was thrilled to speak to the “Repeal of Good Friday and Easter Sunday as Restricted Days (Shop Trading and Sale of Alcohol) Amendment Bill”, which sought to open shop trading and the sale of alcohol on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

The reasoning behind the Bill was to remedy a perceived ‘extra burden’ on businesses by easing the restriction on trading and selling alcohol on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

There were several reasons why I personally opposed this Bill, and therefore voted against it in a conscience vote.

Firstly, entrepreneurs and business owners need a break. Being in business or self employed as a solo operator is a 24/7 job. You are always thinking about it and always feel you should be doing something. I have met many who find it difficult to give themselves the permission to stop, take time out, and take care of their own health.

Secondly, the last thing our communities’ needs on a public holiday is easier access to alcohol. We have such a huge problem with addiction and loneliness in this country, especially on a holiday when loneliness is only exacerbated.

Thirdly, being a true believer in the value of the family unit, we need to let families have those few precious days each year when they can be together, with no pressure for someone in the family having to rush to work.

Finally, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are two of the biggest days of Holy obligation in the Christian calendar. Let’s put the “Christ” back in Christmas and put the X back on the Hot Cross Bun. Leave Good Friday and Easter Sunday alone.

New Zealand First believes our country’s biggest asset is our people. Prioritising families and communities wherever we can, is where we thrive as a nation, together.As the new parliamentary year gets underway, the Government focus has swung to a laser focus on growth. This is of course not new for New Zealand First, we have been preaching the “Gospel of Growth” for the entirety of the term.

We have been leading the charge on growth in the regions with the Regional Investment Fund and Fast Track planning legislation. Initiatives that champion mining, aquaculture, water storage, energy and (my personal favourite) wool, can all be directly attributed  to strong advocacy within government by New Zealand First.

And boy is this needed. We inherited a spluttering economy in recession from a profligate Labour. This legacy has unfortunately resulted in the hangover of rising unemployment.

We want all Kiwi’s to have the security and dignity of a decent well-paying job. As such, one of the policy areas I am taking an active involvement in shaping is the reform of the vocational training sector, particularly with regard to the provision of training for our primary sector - so critical for our Rural Communities.

This country is massively reliant on the primary sector, and there are great opportunities for Kiwi’s to get onto the farms, forests, and fishing boats. Too often we reach for the immigration lever to solve our skills shortages. New Zealand First believes it is up to us as a government to provide quality, fit for purpose vocational training so New Zealanders can develop the skills the sector is crying out for.

Training for practical vocations in the Primary Sector is inherently more expensive. You cannot learn to shear, fence, milk a cow or fell a tree while sitting in a lecture theatre. We will continue to work constructively with our coalition partners to ensure Kiwi’s that want to work in the sector have every opportunity to learn the required skills.