Angie Warren-Clark Labour MP

Every three-to-four weeks, Parliament breaks for 'recess”, which means that Parliament is not sitting. Despite what the name suggests, recess doesn't mean we're spending time with our feet up and a Pina Colada in hand!

This recess I've kept busy with select committee duties and constituent meetings, along with meeting businesses and community groups across the electorate.

One such visit was Pukekauri Farm in Katikati. Here I learnt all about the incredible sustainable farm management practises Rick and Jan have introduced, where they have done riparian planting on marginal land, retired former grazing land and boosted dry matter production on the remaining land by two tonnes per hectare, resulting in liveweight gains and profitability increases.

Whilst walking across the paddock at Pukekauri, I was reminded of the many environmentally friendly and sustainable initiatives in this year's budget. One such initiative is an extra $15 million over the next four years for the sustainable farming fund to help more farms follow in Pukekauri's footsteps.

Another initiative is the establishment of the $100 million Green Investment Fund, which will encourage private-sector investment in high-value, low-carbon industries, clean tech and new jobs.

Funds like this have been hugely successful internationally. Smart business see the value in shifting to climate-aligned investments, and we're going to make sure Kiwi organisations are a part of that shift.

Making our carbon neutral future possible took a huge step forward with this budget, and I can't wait.