December 16, 2025 • 5 mins
Luke caught up with James Meager for one last time this year to reflect on the 2026 political year that's been
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our local mp is James Megha Morning.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Morning, Luke, morning, and merry Christmas everyone. Look you seem
like you've been doing the long hours this week and
you'll be looking forward to the run into Christmas.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Ah looking forward to a few sleepings as everybody is,
but feeling merry, feeling festive. Hey to touch on the
news of the day, super quake, new mega Ministry. We're
bundling cities, Environment, regions and transport all into one msert.
Have you put your hand up to run it yet.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Not mind up to run it? But as part of
my nisery is going to be going into there because
I've got associate Transport. So it's part of the ongoing
reforms that we're doing to the planning system. It just
made sense to now look at everything we do in
that infrastructure, environment, city space in one place. So if
the new rama coming and it kind of brings everything together,
So it made sense to bring Ministry of Transport, Housing
(00:49):
and Urban Development, environment and bits of the local government
functions of DA all together. And I'd say that most
people out there probably didn't even know how those ministries existed,
so probably makes sense to get a bit of rationalization,
some streamlining and services and looking forward to delivering some
good outcomes under the new RMA, under that new ministry.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Right, enough of the serious stuff looking back on the
year that's been, because this is our final chat for
for twenty twenty five for Mid Canterbury in particular, is
there anything that stands out for you?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Well? I think the fact that we're starting to see
work down in the river by the side of the
new bridge is really exciting. I mean, it's something that
we've all been pushing for for years and years and
years into Actually starting to see physical action on the
ground as a really great sign. We'll probably get the
construction underway and earnest early next year and that'll set
(01:43):
us up really well for about a twelve or eighteen
month construction timeline. So that's really great. I think in
and around Mid Cannbury, and I think just generally the
mood of the area is really positive. If you look
at the strength in dairy and sheep and beef and
how our retail and hospitality is bouncing back. I think
set up for a really good year in twenty twenty
six and hopefully bit a good weather but a good
(02:05):
timing around harvest time next year. Means that araball guys
can benefit from that as well.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
I mean, on the whole, we've had a few political
wins here, more money going into local schools and that
hospital maternity ward which is desperate for a revamp. The
RIMA changes as you've mentioned recently, although I'm sure anyone
would agree that twenty twenty five it's been a slog
it's been a battle. Do you feel like we're better
(02:32):
off now than when we started?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I think so. I think if you look at what's
coming through the next year, both in mid Canibride also
north and south of US as well. You think of
the exciting things happening up in christ which with that
big new stadium, Like imagine the excitement of bus loads
of or even trainloads of young kids going up to
the Super Rugby round at Antique weekend and celebrating at
(02:57):
the new stadium up there. You think of the success
of the right. I mean, all of that stuff brings
a lot of positivity and action to the region. The
Fonterra pay out early next year, I think that's going
to really boost farmer confidence and that'll flow through to
our local shops and our local card and drug dealers.
And egg machinists be great for manufacturing. I think we
(03:20):
are in a better spot, and I think the region
and the country's turn the corner and our interest rates,
our mortgage rates people with more disposable income. I'm really
excited about what Lowes is between twenty six.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
A few Christmas presents in there. What's your plan for
the big day?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
We do the past few years we've been doing some
volunteering with the community, lunchdown and to very close to home,
and then it's just what most people do, really a
chance to kind of take stock and relax a little
bit more, spend time with friends and family, and of
course I guess most of all, there's the messaryone else
(03:59):
out there behave ourselves and stay safe because we do
have people that are working right through the holiday period
where our first responders, our search and rescue guys, are farmers,
our police. So if you're out traveling for holiday, stay
safe on the road, if you're using our waterways, our
lakes and rivers. If you're on a boat, where a
life check at common sense. If you're in the rivers,
make sure you stay safe and you check the depth
(04:19):
of the water. All those kinds of common sense things
that make the lives of those who are keeping the
country running over that holiday break much much easier.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Amen to that and be a little more present for
your fur babies. Actually see your dog goes. Do they
get Christmas presents?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
They do, but I don't really think they get the
idea of them because you go to all this time
and effort and energy of you know, really picking out
the perfect gift for them, and then about thirty seconds
later they are in about ten different pieces strewed across
the backyard. So I think sometimes buy them a nice
big bag of dog food and maybe a new ball
to chase, and take them for a big, long walk
(04:55):
down the river, and that's all they want, And I
think that's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Your presence is going to be the greatest present. Cheers
for all the catch ups this year. Local MP James Mega,
take a load off, You've earned it, and look forward
to staying in touch into twenty twenty six.
Our local mp is James Megha Morning.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Morning, Luke, morning, and merry Christmas everyone. Look you seem
like you've been doing the long hours this week and
you'll be looking forward to the run into Christmas.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Ah looking forward to a few sleepings as everybody is,
but feeling merry, feeling festive. Hey to touch on the
news of the day, super quake, new mega Ministry. We're
bundling cities, Environment, regions and transport all into one msert.
Have you put your hand up to run it yet.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Not mind up to run it? But as part of
my nisery is going to be going into there because
I've got associate Transport. So it's part of the ongoing
reforms that we're doing to the planning system. It just
made sense to now look at everything we do in
that infrastructure, environment, city space in one place. So if
the new rama coming and it kind of brings everything together,
So it made sense to bring Ministry of Transport, Housing
(00:49):
and Urban Development, environment and bits of the local government
functions of DA all together. And I'd say that most
people out there probably didn't even know how those ministries existed,
so probably makes sense to get a bit of rationalization,
some streamlining and services and looking forward to delivering some
good outcomes under the new RMA, under that new ministry.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Right, enough of the serious stuff looking back on the
year that's been, because this is our final chat for
for twenty twenty five for Mid Canterbury in particular, is
there anything that stands out for you?
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Well? I think the fact that we're starting to see
work down in the river by the side of the
new bridge is really exciting. I mean, it's something that
we've all been pushing for for years and years and
years into Actually starting to see physical action on the
ground as a really great sign. We'll probably get the
construction underway and earnest early next year and that'll set
(01:43):
us up really well for about a twelve or eighteen
month construction timeline. So that's really great. I think in
and around Mid Cannbury, and I think just generally the
mood of the area is really positive. If you look
at the strength in dairy and sheep and beef and
how our retail and hospitality is bouncing back. I think
set up for a really good year in twenty twenty
six and hopefully bit a good weather but a good
(02:05):
timing around harvest time next year. Means that araball guys
can benefit from that as well.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
I mean, on the whole, we've had a few political
wins here, more money going into local schools and that
hospital maternity ward which is desperate for a revamp. The
RIMA changes as you've mentioned recently, although I'm sure anyone
would agree that twenty twenty five it's been a slog
it's been a battle. Do you feel like we're better
(02:32):
off now than when we started?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I think so. I think if you look at what's
coming through the next year, both in mid Canibride also
north and south of US as well. You think of
the exciting things happening up in christ which with that
big new stadium, Like imagine the excitement of bus loads
of or even trainloads of young kids going up to
the Super Rugby round at Antique weekend and celebrating at
(02:57):
the new stadium up there. You think of the success
of the right. I mean, all of that stuff brings
a lot of positivity and action to the region. The
Fonterra pay out early next year, I think that's going
to really boost farmer confidence and that'll flow through to
our local shops and our local card and drug dealers.
And egg machinists be great for manufacturing. I think we
(03:20):
are in a better spot, and I think the region
and the country's turn the corner and our interest rates,
our mortgage rates people with more disposable income. I'm really
excited about what Lowes is between twenty six.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
A few Christmas presents in there. What's your plan for
the big day?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
We do the past few years we've been doing some
volunteering with the community, lunchdown and to very close to home,
and then it's just what most people do, really a
chance to kind of take stock and relax a little
bit more, spend time with friends and family, and of
course I guess most of all, there's the messaryone else
(03:59):
out there behave ourselves and stay safe because we do
have people that are working right through the holiday period
where our first responders, our search and rescue guys, are farmers,
our police. So if you're out traveling for holiday, stay
safe on the road, if you're using our waterways, our
lakes and rivers. If you're on a boat, where a
life check at common sense. If you're in the rivers,
make sure you stay safe and you check the depth
(04:19):
of the water. All those kinds of common sense things
that make the lives of those who are keeping the
country running over that holiday break much much easier.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Amen to that and be a little more present for
your fur babies. Actually see your dog goes. Do they
get Christmas presents?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
They do, but I don't really think they get the
idea of them because you go to all this time
and effort and energy of you know, really picking out
the perfect gift for them, and then about thirty seconds
later they are in about ten different pieces strewed across
the backyard. So I think sometimes buy them a nice
big bag of dog food and maybe a new ball
to chase, and take them for a big, long walk
(04:55):
down the river, and that's all they want, And I
think that's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Your presence is going to be the greatest present. Cheers
for all the catch ups this year. Local MP James Mega,
take a load off, You've earned it, and look forward
to staying in touch into twenty twenty six.
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