We’ve just wrapped up a three-week Parliamentary recess that lined up with the school holidays – a great time for MPs with school-age kids and, for me, a chance to spend more time out in the community.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to meet with a wide range of locals and community groups, and it’s always a real privilege to hear what’s going on from the ground up.
Back in Wellington, things will ramp up starting this week with a three-week sitting block. We’re starting off under urgency to move through some important legislation. As you’ve probably heard, this Budget is going to be a responsible one – not a lolly scramble. We’re focused on rebuilding the economy to ease the cost of living and help Kiwis get ahead. That means supporting growth, investing wisely in areas like education and healthcare, and reducing the Government’s massive debt burden, which has ballooned from $58 billion in 2019 to $175 billion in 2024.
Economic growth isn’t just a buzzword – it’s about making sure everyday families have more money in their pockets, more opportunities, and better public services. It’s also how we invest in the future – like our latest move to make financial education part of the core social sciences curriculum for Year 1–10 students from 2026. Younger children will learn basic financial skills, while older students will tackle budgeting, saving, and even investment. It’s all about building strong financial foundations so Kiwi kids grow up financially confident and ready for real life.
As Chair of the Māori Affairs Select Committee, I’m continuing to work across the political aisle to improve outcomes for Māori. The committee is evenly split between Government and Opposition, so it takes collaboration – but the goal is clear: better results for our people.
We recently had the Prime Minister visit New Plymouth, where he met with local tradies at PlaceMakers and later spoke to a packed room of business leaders at the Plymouth Hotel. It was a fast-paced visit, but one packed with meaningful conversations. After his formal remarks, he took the time to engage one-on-one with as many people as possible — so much so that he ran over time by nearly an hour. That says a lot about his commitment to hearing directly from everyday Kiwis, and it was appreciated by all who had the chance to speak with him. We’re looking forward to welcoming him back again soon.
Another highlight was visiting the Salvation Army’s Bridge programme, which supports people struggling with addiction. The team there does incredible work on a shoestring budget, and we even heard directly from a former resident whose life had been turned around by the programme. It’s these kinds of community-led efforts that quietly change lives.
Finally, the issue of rough sleepers in our CBD continues to be a key concern. We’ve had recent community meetings focused on finding solutions, not just talking about the problem. One initiative I support is YMCA’s night shelter, offering a safe space to sleep, clean clothes, and a shower. But we also need to look at daytime solutions – a place where people can access the wraparound support they need, without disrupting local businesses or making the CBD feel unsafe. There’s no one-size-fits-all fix, but we’re committed to finding a balanced, compassionate path forward.
That’s the latest from me for now – as always, feel free to get in touch if there’s anything you want to raise.
Please see below a photo montage of the past 8 weeks:
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon - Visit to New Plymouth
Above: Jeremy and the local PlaceMakers team were excellent hosts for a tradie shout with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. ANZCO provided food, Tasman Toyota provided their community bbq and Steve from Feel the Love fuelled us with coffee! Great conversations were had. National supports tradies!
Above: Another fantastic Taranaki Chamber of Commerce event. Their team have done many of these over the years. They are well organised and provide a perfect platform for discussion. The Prime Minister was late to the next engagement at Clarus because he values the one-on-one discussions.
Above: We had a great catch up with Clarus. The Prime Minister and I had more great conversations with staff and enjoyed the site visit.
Above: ANZAC Day Ceremonies in New Plymouth and Waitara. I was deeply moved by the stories shared. Reminders of the many lives lost in Gallipoli and beyond, fighting for the freedoms we enjoy today. For many of us, war is a distant memory, something we read about but will never truly understand. That’s why days like this are not just for remembrance, they are also for education.
We must reflect on the lessons of the past, not just to honour those who came before us, but to ask ourselves what we’re learning today. In a world still grappling with conflict, we owe it to future generations to keep striving for peace.
Lest we forget.
Above: It is my pleasure to introduce my Youth MP for Youth Parliament 2025, Jasper Rhodes.
Jasper is a 16 year old student at New Plymouth Boys' High School who is a driven and grounded young man with a heavy involvement in school leadership, football, the arts and community.
I had one of the highest number of applications in the country for this position. Jasper’s application was outstanding. He had a well thought out policy idea and was shortlisted for a panel interview with Stacey Hitchcock, Daniel Fleming and myself. We were all impressed at Jasper’s enthusiasm and energy during this process.
Not many, if any young people get to meet the Prime Minister on day one of the Youth MP role. I’m sure yesterday’s experience will stick with him for a very long time.
I look forward to working with Jasper over the coming months. Well done mate!
Above: The Salvation Army provides essential mental health and addiction services to our community.
I had the privilege of meeting with Shane Smith, Director of The Salvation Army Bridge (Mental Health and Addiction) Services, along with his team, to learn more about their work and gain insight into the wide-reaching impact they have within the community. Since 1st July 2024, their programme has supported 116 individuals on their journey to recovery. We toured their residential facility, and I was genuinely impressed by how well-maintained and welcoming it felt.
My sincere thanks to Shane and Maxine for guiding me around this crucial community resource and for providing a thorough overview of the exceptional work you are doing to support our most vulnerable members of society.
Above: I attended the bIessing of Stadium Taranaki led by Damon Ritai on behalf of Ngāti Te Whiti. It has been a long road to get here. I am looking forward to this amazing community asset being well used by many. It is spectacular!
Above: It's always a pleasure to get down the coast to Ōpunake! Coastal Care recently reached a milestone. Great to see some familiar faces at their 10th birthday celebration. I also held a coffee catch up with locals at Arty Tarts cafe.
Office address:
37 Gill Street (Corner of Gill & Liardet), New Plymouth
Office hours:
Mon - Thurs: 9am - 3pm
Fri: By appointment
Phone: 06 759 2580