“He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.” – Arabian Proverb

You may have missed it, but the Coalition government took an important step to crack down on youth vaping last week.

We introduced The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2), which will allow vaping to be used as an effective cessation tool while also cracking down on youth vaping in our community.

Once passed, the Bill will:

• Ban disposable vapes that appeal to young people,
• Impose greater fines for anyone selling vapes to under-18s,
• Impose visibility restrictions on vaping products in retail spaces, keeping them out of sight from youth, and
• Include proximity limits on vape sales near early childhood centres.

Youth vaping is sadly on the rise, with latest estimates suggesting 15 percent of Kiwis aged 15-17 are vaping daily. The previous Labour government was slow to regulate and enforce the rules around vaping. Our government won’t make that same mistake.

Along with the changes announced above, we will also be employing 16 new dedicated smokefree enforcement officers by December to ensure compliance and effectiveness with the new law.

It’s all part of our plan to reduce youth vaping while ensuring it remains a viable tool for smoking cessation.

Community Update

• Get your survey in. Recently we sent a community update to all mailboxes in our community. Apart from the obvious typo we discovered, we have had a great response so far. If you haven’t sent yours in yet, please do so. This information helps inform my priorities as your local MP and the priorities of my office too!

• Quick action from our police. Police responded to a 3am call last week in Birkdale from an alarmed resident who heard smashing inside her home. The resident moved to safety and the Police secured the property resulting in an 18-year-old female being swiftly apprehended and charged with burglary.

• Well done team. In our community, we are fortunate to have fantastic local sports clubs, so I congratulate all the Winter codes who have just finished the season. We all know how important team sports are to mental, physical and community wellbeing.

• Lighting upgrade. Just a reminder that AT continue to work on the lighting upgrade in Birkenhead Village. They have adjusted the road closure times to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. Let us know if you have any concerns.

• Council consultation: A draft Shoreline Adaptation Plan is out for consultation from now until 26 September. It looks at how we can adapt Auckland Council-owned land and assets to respond to coastal hazards, climate change and manage risk for the years to come. Have your say here: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/shoreline-adaptation-plans-waitemata-harbour-and-weiti-estuary-to-devonport-peninsula

• Donate today. I recently visited the Salvation Army centre in Glenfield to learn about the good work the team does for our most vulnerable. Please consider donating items to this vital community organisation. They are particularly in need of breakfast cereals, school lunch items and meal preparation foods for dinners. You can find them at 430 Glenfield Road (Corner of Kaipatiki Rd).

Northcote National Events

SuperBlues

We're continuing our series of opportunities to meet new or returning members of our caucus, this time with our guest Ryan Hamilton (MP for Hamilton East)

• When: From 10am on Friday 27th September 2024
• Where: Northcote Bowling Club at Little Shoal Bay Reserve
• Cover Charge for Light Refreshments: $5pp (cash at the door) + we will run a cash raffle also
• RSVP: Please click the button below or RSVP via email to [email protected] (please indicate any dietary requirements)

Supporting Northcote National

We are seeking to grow our local membership to help us deliver for Northcote and to set up for success in the 2026 election. You decide what membership is worth and you decide how involved you want to be! 

So, please join or re-join today! 

If you'd rather not join but would like to support Northcote National as we build towards future campaigns, you can donate here:

Please note that all donations made through the link above go directly to Northcote National Party. Please consider a regular monthly donation. Details around donor record keeping and disclosure rules are provided at the link. Note that donations are centrally processed on a monthly basis and so there may be a delay before Northcote National is aware and can thank you.

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See you in our community soon!

Regards,

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MP for Northcote