Andrew Bayly MP

Many congratulations to my former electorate secretary Barbara Knowles who has today received the King's Service Medal in the New Year's Honours List for services to the community and to Members of Parliament. Richly deserved for 40 years of service to Parliament and our electorate communities. https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2026-ksm

Great write-up by RNZ yesterday following the Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly in Wellington earlier this month.

Andrew Bayly and the fight for Antarctica The National MP still remembers the "visual assault" of Antarctica, the piercing blue clarity and scale-bending brightness.

Our Government has announced a 50% boost to school property maintenance funding, with several schools in the electorate among the first to benefit in the 2026/27 round. Read the Minister's full press release in the comments below.
• Pukekohe High School
• Onewhero Area School
• Pokeno School
• Pukekawa School
• Pukeoware School
• Waiuku Primary School
• Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Puaha o Waikato

I spoke to the NBR's Brent Edwards following the Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly in Wellington this week, which I was proud to chair. Managing the commercial pressures from the likes of tourism with the environmental importance of Antarctica is something the assembly can support by turning parliamentarians into advocates.

Protect Antarctica from commercial exploitation: Andrew Bayly Read premium business news, economic analysis, and market reporting from New Zealand’s most trusted business newsroom. Subscribe to support independent journalism.

Our new planning system will make it easier to build the houses and infrastructure New Zealand needs, let farmers and growers get on with doing what they do best, and boost our primary sector while protecting the environment.

This is real democracy in action. Pro-Palestinian supporters side by side with Pro-Israeli supporters on the front lawn of Parliament. Not sure either group could hear the other above the din!

Final day for the Antarctica Parliamentarians Assembly in Parliament. 25 MPs from around the world attended, this being the first time discussions on Antarctica involving MPs have been held in the Southern Hemisphere. Very fortunate to have with us world-leading scientists and other experts to present on the Antarctic Treaty System, science collaboration, tourism, and what is happening in the Arctic that may affect Antarctica. As the Chair, I presented our agreed findings at the conclusion of the Assembly.

Another huge crowd at the Waiuku Christmas Parade. Nice to see some many children looking for Father Christmas. Thanks for the Waiuku Volunteer Fire Brigade for taking me in your tender!

Only in Waiuku
Waiuku Grapevine.

A lot of new and exciting floats at Tuakau for the Christmas Parade Perfect day for it. Well done to all the supporters.

This is excellent news for our rural communities that struggle to attract GPs. The graduate-entry programme will train an extra 120 doctors a year, in addition to those being trained at Auckland and Otago, with clinical placements in rural and regional settings. First intake of students expected in 2028.