24 Jan - 30 Jan
LOCALLY OWNED SINCE FOREVER
No 885
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
JO
BS
21 IN 9 SI
D
E
People hold the power for change in 2023 2023 has well and truly started with a bang! We had a prime minister resigning early in what is shaping to be a cracker of an election year. She also announced the election would take place on 14 October. National is ready to govern the country if given the opportunity to do so by the people. While 2022 was a year of consolidation, with Christopher Luxon as our Leader and our polling trend moving from the mid-20s to the high-30s, the National Caucus is focused and working together to ensure Labour only has two terms in Government. Some of our policies announced already included economic growth, tax relief, the cost-of-living crisis, immigration, youth unemployment and youth offending, gangs and Three Waters, to name a few, with many more to come in the weeks and months ahead. There’s a lot of work to do still. My aspirations for Southland include ensuring our tourism and hospitality industries’ voices are heard in Wellington in addressing the ongoing worker shortages. Farmers continue to suffer unworkable regulations, and I look forward to putting more pressure on the Government as part of our wider Agriculture caucus’ efforts. It was a privilege to recently become the Forestry spokesperson for the National Party too, while retaining the portfolios of Treaty Negotiations, Space and Associate Spokesperson roles for Agriculture and Tourism. Forestry is an important industry for New Zealand’s economy and job creation, the country’s fourth largest export earner. I look forward to working with the sector and other stakeholders on the opportunities and challenges for this vital industry. Just before the December break, the Government released significant amendments to their flawed Three Waters legislation. Many have been in touch voicing concerns about it. The only way to stop them is to replace this Government so that National can repeal the legislation. On the socio-economic front, we have work to do to curb the rising costs of living. Stats NZ food price figures show an increase of 11.3 per cent in the past 12 months, the highest in 32 years, with grocery prices contributing the most. ANZ’s chief economist is on record saying that New Zealand’s price inflation appears to be a home-grown problem compared to world food price indexes. Labour has failed to curb inflation and stop the rising cost of living. We need a Government with a clear economic plan to do so. By strengthening the economy, we can reduce the cost of living and lift incomes for all. National would rein in wasteful spending that’s adding fuel to the inflation fire, stop adding new costs and taxes, refocus the Reserve Bank on price stability, address worker shortages and let Kiwis keep more of what they earn. [...] Continue on page 2
The large plume of smoke pouring from a section fire in Highview Terrace in St Andrew’s Park last week. Story on page 9. Photo: Stuart Mountain.
Send your CVs to HR@SAIGONKINGDOM.CO.NZ
SINCE 2002 1 ATHOL STREET, THE VILLAGE GREEN
casual dining at its best...
+64 3 442 4444