Welcome to 2023! I hope you all had the chance to relax and rejuvenate.
I was fortunate to enjoy some quality time with my family in our region, including surfing in Curio Bay in the Catlins. The experience was made so much more special by the Hector’s dolphins playing in the waves close by. We have so much to be grateful for in our beautiful region.
I’m looking forward to the year ahead and am planning to meet as many of you as possible to hear your views and concerns.
The election year has started with a bang too with the resignation of the prime minister in what is shaping to be a cracker of an election year. She also announced the election would take place on October 14, which is less than nine months away.
Labour may have replaced its leader and we now have a new prime minister, but it is the same team that has steered our country into a cost-of-living iceberg.
New Zealand needs a reset.
National is ready to govern the country and bring us back into prosperity if given the opportunity to do so.
While 2022 was a year of consolidation, with Christopher Luxon as our leader and our polling moving from the mid-20s to the high-30s, the National caucus is focused and working together to ensure Labour has only two terms in Government.
In our recent public meeting in Gore with Christopher that was attended by about 300 people, he spoke passionately about National’s plans for the future of our country.
This included some of our policies announced already around 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.
He also spoke passionately about backing our farmers like New Zealand backs the All Blacks, saying they are our No 1 sector that got us through the global financial crises and Covid.
But there is still much more to do.
My aspirations for Southland include ensuring our farmers’ voices continue to be heard in Wellington as they suffer unworkable regulations.
I was recently appointed the forestry spokesman, which fits well with my associate agriculture portfolio. The addition of forestry to my work programme is a great opportunity for me to continue my work as part of a wider ag caucus in holding the Government to account for its decisions that affect our primary industries.
I have also retained my treaty negotiations, space and associate tourism portfolios.
I’m excited about this year, with a full schedule planned before the election. There will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with me.
Keep an eye out for further details on my website, newsletter or social media. If you aren’t already receiving my newsletter, sign up at josephmooney.national.org.nz.
‘Labour may have replaced its leader and we now have a new prime minister, but it is the same team that has steered our country into a cost-of-living iceberg. ,
