Wrapping up from a week in the winterless north for Waitangi, the New Zealand First team was back to the capital and straight into another week of combat against those who seek to desecrate the democratic rights of Kiwis and their communities.

The Whangarei District Council was in the headlines this week, being threatened with imprisonment if they don’t succumb to bureaucratic overreach and enforce fluoridation into their local water supply. New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters took exception to this, read his press release in full below:

• Democracy Matters - New Zealand First

Two more Member’s Bills from New Zealand First

New Zealand First introduced two new member’s bills to the ballot this week, continuing to champion commonsense as we develop ongoing policies.

• Fluoridation Referendum Bill

“The only people who would oppose this Bill are those who oppose democracy” – Rt Hon Winston Peters

Our Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water.

New Zealand First believes such a significant decision about local fluoridation needs to be decided by the people themselves.

The Bill would repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health and mandated the fluoridation of local water supplies.

New Zealand First has always opposed mass dosing, previously halting the mandating of fluoridation in water when we were in parliament.

The legislation that our Member’s Bill would repeal, was only brought in by the previous Labour government when New Zealand First wasn’t there to stop them. This is another example of why the voice of commonsense and experience is needed in the halls in parliament, and New Zealand First brings exactly that.

Read more HERE.

Hear Winston’s interviews on The Platform and Newstalk ZB in the below links

• Winston Peters: There are unelected globalists deciding what's ethical in NZ - We won't stand for it
• 'Let them decide': NZ First introduces bill seeking referendum on fluoridation

• Bill To Fight ‘Woke Banks’

New Zealand First’s ‘Financial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment (Duty to Provide) Amendment Bill’  intends to prevent banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”.

Shane Jones: We will prevent banks from inflicting their woke luxury beliefs on rural communities

New Zealand First is opposed to any woke ideology influencing the services that can be provided to legitimate businesses, especially when those businesses are so crucial to the success and prosperity of our economic recovery.

“This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate radicals” - Rt Hon Winston Peters

The will mean that no New Zealand business can be denied banking services unless the decision is grounded in law.

Read more HERE.

Being schooled by Shane Jones

Not only are our caucus delivering on our coalition agreement, but they continue to represent the honour of being in parliament, standing up to the ongoing disregard shown by other members in the house.

This week, as one MP was told to apologise to the house after an issue was referred to the privileges committee, Shane Jones was holding nothing back in schooling said member on the etiquette and privilege of being a Member of Parliament.

Watch Shane’s speech HERE.

Shane was also on the waterfront in Wellington launching the fisheries consultation document that will help boost the industry and place regulation back in the realm of practicality…

…before heading to the Bay of Plenty to open the motorway interchange to the Rangiuru Business Park near Te Puke, celebrating more Provincial Growth Fund projects that are investing in New Zealand’s regional economic success.

Shane is pro- economy, pro-jobs, and pro New Zealand, first!

MP updates

Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson was thrilled to promote the annual celebrations for National Lamb Day this week (the official day is the 15^th). He was part of the agricultural team on site at parliament for a celebration lunch and will be attending a local event in the South over the weekend. Hear Mark's latest interview:

• Mark Patterson: How chops and cutlets bring politicians  together, more farms being converted into forests, and Fast Track projects.

Jenny Marcroft is our spokesperson for Media and Communications, and the Under-Secretary to the Minister for Media and Communications. She celebrated World Radio Day on her socials with a trip down memory lane.

Above left: Andy Foster at Culham Engineering structural steel company, one of several site visits with local businesses in and around Whangarei last week.

Above right: The New Zealand First team hosting Fluoride Free NZ after submitting their petition to parliament.