Joseph Mooney's column

It is great to be back in Queenstown now Parliament has wrapped for the year.

We are fortunate to live in a very special part of the world and I’m looking forward to getting into the hills over the Christmas break and recharging my batteries for 2025.

Reflecting on 2024 I am proud of what the Government has achieved to make New Zealand a better place.

As promised, we are stripping away the barriers and red tape that have hamstrung the ability to deliver projects that will make the lives of Kiwis better.

This Government has an aggressive economic growth agenda, and delivering better infrastructure is part of how we get there.

We continue to lay the foundations so we can hit the economic accelerator pedal and create more jobs, more opportunities for those who want to create new and exciting businesses that can employ people and afford to pay them higher incomes, and ultimately so we have the great economy needed to afford public services Kiwis expect and deserve.

An important development for Queenstown has been the passing of the Fast Track Approvals Bill.

Fast Track approvals will help significant projects get underway faster and it is pleasing to see the amount of new housing for the Queenstown region on the project list.

The Government has also unveiled its second Emissions Reduction Plan, outlining a path to keep New Zealand on track to meet its climate change targets while supporting the economy to thrive.

The plan sets the foundation to meet our net zero 2050 target as early as 2044, six years ahead of schedule.

Clean, abundant, and affordable energy is critical to New Zealand’s prosperity. New Zealand already has more than 85 percent renewable energy electricity; and we plan to double our renewable generation by 2050. Fast Track projects will be part of achieving that.

Another December highlight has been the Government’s target to lift 15,000 children out of persistent poverty by 2035, which is the first time a New Zealand government has set a target to reduce persistent poverty.

As Chair of the Social Services and Community Select Committee this is a topic I am regularly involved with. We are committed to making New Zealand the best place in the world for children, and addressing persistent poverty is an important step in realising that vision. We will take a social investment approach, focusing spending on interventions data tells us will make the biggest difference.

There is strong momentum to build on in 2025 and I am excited for what the new year will bring.

Thank you for your support this year, I hope the Queenstown summer is a safe and enjoyable one for you and your family.

Joseph Mooney | Member of Parliament for Southland