Maureen Pugh, MP West Coast – Tasman
As we head toward the end of 2025, the Government has laid out its plan for the last few months of the year, and it’s another big one. The Q4 Action Plan spells out what we want to get done before Christmas, and it’s clear we’re not short of work.
From fixing the economy and cutting red tape to tackling crime and sorting out the Public Service, there’s plenty on our plate.
For those of us living outside the big cities, a few things stand out straight away. Letting people build small granny flats or farm cottages up to 70 square metres without needing a building consent is common sense. Out here, families often need a bit of extra space for older parents, young workers, or visitors, and the consent process has been a costly headache for too long.
The promise to look at capping council rates will also strike a positive chord. Rural ratepayers have been hit hard by rising costs, and some councils seem to think money literally grows on trees. A fairer, more disciplined approach is overdue.
Then there’s the move to replace the old RMA and fast-track important projects. That’s good news for anyone who’s ever tried to get a dam built, a road fixed, or a shed approved. We’ve all seen how too much red tape can strangle progress and the Government is tackling it head-on.
But the elephant in the room is the ceaseless attack on farmers who simply want to get on and farm, without the endless forms, fees, and delays that take time away from actual work on the land and sucks hundreds of thousands of dollars to re-confirm what they’ve been doing for generations. The new RMA planning rules will cut through that red tape and will be one of the best changes in years. It can’t happen fast enough!
There are also plans to boost diagnostic health services, improve education outcomes, and strengthen crime laws. Making stalking a jailable offence and tightening up on anti-social behaviour are the kinds of practical steps that make communities feel safer. None of this will happen overnight, of course. The country has been through some tough years, with some unexpected twists and turns, and turning things around takes time.
But there’s a sense this Government is rolling up its sleeves and focusing on results, not just talk. It’s good to see a plan with clear goals and deadlines. It shows direction, and it shows determination.
Out here in heartland New Zealand, that’s what people respect most: a government that’s willing to front up, work hard, and get things moving again. And as we have always done, we measure our success against those goals every quarter.
