Dear John,

King=E2=80=99s Birthday Honours

My congratulations to all who received Kings Birthday Honours on the long w=
eekend. In the Papakura electorate we acknowledge Richard Balcom-Langridge =
of Brookby who received an ONZM for his services to business, transport, ho=
spitality, environment restoration and support for community causes.=C2=A0

It is wonderful to acknowledge people who go far beyond the ordinary, beyon=
d their paid work to volunteer their skills and help to benefit and support=
our families and communities across New Zealand. My thanks to all who do t=
his whether they receive formal recognition or not.

Space

Space is proving to be a sector that is adding considerable value to the Ne=
w Zealand economy as the sector and the associated advanced aviation sector=
combined, added more than $2.5 billion to the New Zealand economy last yea=
r, as a report I recently released shows.

The Deloitte/Space TrailBlazer Innovation for Growth, Charting the Space an=
d Advanced Aviation Sectors report showed the space sector contributed $2.4=
7b to the economy in the 2023-24 financial year and $480million was contrib=
uted by the advanced aviation sector, which includes emerging aviation tech=
nologies.

This is a success story for New Zealand as these two sectors are creating j=
obs for New Zealanders and attracting billions of dollars in investment int=
o New Zealand that will drive further innovation and scientific advancement=
. =C2=A0Last year they supported 17,000 mostly local, jobs in space manufac=
turing, operations and applications through commercial, home-grown operatio=
ns.

The work goes on in research labs, in drone manufacture, and around rocket =
launches and launch pads.=C2=A0

There are some amazing companies and an immense depth of talent working in =
the space and advanced aviation sectors throughout the country.

The Government is supporting developments through a light-touch regulatory =
approach. We have natural advantages of clear skies and geography, and we w=
ant to give innovators both local and international, the flexibility to tes=
t their ideas and continue driving growth.

Encouraging growth will allow New Zealand to meet the target of doubling th=
ese sectors by 2030 which should be achievable if the 9 percent annual grow=
th continues.

During my visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, I joined a =
panel discussion on Cyber, Undersea and Outer-Space Defence Challenges.=C2=
=A0

As part of the Asia Tech X Singapore Summit, I participated in an engagemen=
t hosted by Singapore Minister of Digital Development and Information Josep=
hine Teo and met with GovTech Singapore. These engagements were opportuniti=
es to discuss topics of shared interest in digital government and technolog=
y.=C2=A0

These discussions will help New Zealand stay at the forefront of technologi=
cal innovation and foster international relationships that are crucial to k=
nowledge and information sharing.=C2=A0
=C2=A0
While I was attending the Shangri-La dialogue for defence ministers in Sing=
apore, I heard about the US President's Golden Dome $175billion project whi=
ch would create a satellite network to detect and intercept missiles.

I have agreed with this idea of creating a defence mechanism that would all=
ow America to defend themselves and possibly New Zealand in the future beca=
use the USA believes it is needed. Interestingly it seems to echo that Stra=
tegic Defence Initiative that was proposed by Ronald Reagan in the 1980=E2=
=80=99s which was also a missile defence system.

While talking about the USA, it is a relief to report that although the US =
has said that the Five Eyes Allies should lift their annual defence spend t=
o 3.5 per cent of GDP, it seems that there is understanding by my US counte=
rparts that 2 per cent is enough for New Zealand at this time. =C2=A0As we =
know, a couple of previous governments have allowed our defence capabilitie=
s to degrade so now we are in catch up mode and the US seems comfortable wi=
th the growth to 2 per cent that we can manage in the short term. It is not=
ed that the Australian Prime Minister is saying it will take eight years fo=
r it to get its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.

The Prime Minister and I recognise that this year=E2=80=99s Defence Budget =
is a starting point and that New Zealand needs to be prepared to spend more=
over the years ahead.=C2=A0

Health Budget gets a boost

The Prime Minister and Minister of Health announced that Budget 2025 will i=
nvest $164 million over four years to expand urgent and after-hours healthc=
are services across the country.=C2=A0

This means 98 per cent of New Zealanders will be able to receive in-person,=
trained, urgent care within one hour=E2=80=99s drive of their homes.=C2=A0

Health NZ will focus on expanding community-based urgent care to help ease =
pressure on hospitals and keep emergency departments wait times down for th=
ose with the most serious conditions.=C2=A0

More access to out of hours urgent care will support the almost 5000 people=
who need medical care every day and their condition or injury can=E2=80=99=
t wait until the following day or after a public holiday for medical attent=
ion from the GP.=C2=A0
In particular, Budget 2025 will fund a new 24/7 urgent care service identif=
ied for Counties Manukau, providing more accessible after-hours options and=
easing pressure on our region=E2=80=99s already busy emergency departments=
, particularly at Middlemore Hospital.

In a nutshell, Budget 2025 allows funding for=C2=A0

- 100 clinical placements for overseas-trained doctors
- Recruitment incentives for up to 400 graduate nurses annually for five ye=
ars
- 100 additional doctor training places over the course of this Government
- Up to 50 graduate doctors training in primary care annually
- Up to 120 training places for nurse practitioners in primary care
- Accelerated tertiary education for up to 120 primary care nurses
- A $285 million uplift to funding over three years for general practice fr=
om 1 July 2025, in addition to the capitation uplift general practice recei=
ves annually
- Better access to 24/7 digital services.

=C2=A0
Being good world citizens and providing citizens with the essentials to be =
healthy, educated and safe, are some of the goals that I am working to supp=
ort and to provide for my constituents and my community.

=C2=A0

All the best,
Judith

Hon Judith Collins KC
MP for Papakura

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