From a groundbreaking medical milestone to Budget 2025, a Prime Ministerial visit to Tauranga and big wins for our local schools and businesses - May was packed with action, momentum and meaningful progress.
It’s a privilege to represent Tauranga, and I’m always focused on making sure our region stays front and centre in national conversations.
Local Highlights
It’s been a big month for Tauranga – here are some quick wins worth celebrating:
- The OCR is down another 25 basis points – great news for mortgage holders and businesses.
- Mount Maunganui-based Syos Aerospace has won a top honour at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards – a fantastic achievement for local innovation.
- Congratulations to Aquinas College senior boys on taking out the national secondary schools rugby title!
- Tauranga is getting access to 24/7 urgent healthcare – a huge boost for local families and frontline providers.
- Kathleen Kilgour Centre gets Asia-Pacific’s first advanced Elekta radiation therapy machine (discussed further below!)
Budget 2025: Delivered to the House
The month brought the announcement of Budget 2025, delivered in Parliament by our Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis. It was a strong, disciplined Budget focused on rebuilding the economy, reducing wasteful spending and delivering relief for hard-working New Zealanders. You can read more about how this will support you here.
Some key wins for locals include:
- From 2026, you’ll be able to receive 12-month prescriptions for medicines, saving you time and money
- Tauranga is getting access to 24/7 urgent healthcare
- Learning Support Coordinators at all schools across NZ in years 0-8. This means those children with additional needs can get crucial support. This is the number one thing schools tell me they want – a huge win for the education of our young ones and all primary school teachers!
Prime Minister Visits Tauranga
It was fantastic to welcome Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to our region. During his visit, we met with Page Macrae, followed by a Tradie Shout BBQ at Mitre 10 with Tom Rutherford. It was great to see so many of our local tradies. We continue to commit to being a government that has your back!
Business, Justice & Arts with Minister Goldsmith
We had a packed day with Minister Paul Goldsmith in Tauranga.
- We had an outstanding Members’ Morning Tea at the White House in Te Puna. The place was packed, the food excellent and the morning was greatly enjoyed by all.
- We visited the Tauranga District Court to discuss case volumes, meet the hard-working team and hear plans for our much-needed new courthouse.
- We closed with an Arts & Culture Forum hosted by The Incubator – a collaborative conversation with the creative sector. Thank you to everyone who participated!
National Party Regional Conference
May also included the Central and Lower North Island Regional Conference for the National Party, held in Rotorua. It was energising to connect with members and reaffirm the strong support across the region.
We heard a number of outstanding addresses by our Prime Minister and Ministers. Well done to all Tauranga members – we once again took out first place for most members in CNI – well done and thank you!
Asia-Pacific First: Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatment Arrives in Tauranga
It was a real honour to attend the launch of the Elekta EVI LINAC at the Kathleen Kilgour Centre – the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific and one of only a handful in use globally.
This new technology uses Iris AI-enhanced imaging to deliver highly accurate and personalised cancer treatment. It’s a massive win for Tauranga and a testament to what’s possible through a public-private model backed by local belief.
Special thanks to:
- CEO Letham White, Mark Fraundorfer and the wider KKC team
- The board and over 100 local investors
- The clinical and medical teams who made this transition possible
Community Engagement: Schools, Kindergartens & Local Services
Throughout May, I visited a range of local schools, kindergartens, businesses and health services. These face-to-face conversations are vital to ensuring I can advocate effectively for our city.
I also had the pleasure of welcoming students from Aquinas College and Mount Maunganui College onto Parliament grounds. They asked some fantastic questions about life as an MP, how Parliament works and what it means to represent Tauranga.
Ōtūmoetai Pool Saved
Ōtūmoetai Pool is staying open! This is a fantastic local outcome. When I visited, a dozen people came up to tell me how happy they were. Local democracy in action! Well done to Glen Crowther – Tauranga City Councillor – and Tauranga City Council for listening to the community.
Local Rugby & School Sports Success
It was great to get out and about in Tauranga to catch some local sport. Early mornings, frosty fingertips and a bit of healthy competition - the perfect way to take a break from a busy schedule!
A big shout-out to Aquinas College senior boys on their incredible win at the secondary schools nationals – an impressive achievement that reflects their talent and teamwork.
Sourced from SunLive
Working Together for Tauranga
I had my regular meeting with Mayor Mahé Drysdale, continuing to advocate for ratepayers and align priorities between local and central government. I meet regularly with key people and groups in Tauranga to ensure we’re all on the same page (or as much as possible) so we can sort out any issues and ensure I can best represent them in Wellington.
Electorate Visit – Whanganui
I spent a day in the Whanganui electorate with Carl Bates, visiting a coffee roastery, a medical centre and attending a rest home forum – an area I’m passionate about. Carl is a very hard working local MP, known locally as the “Everywhere Man”. I really enjoyed my day with him and his team. We then headed straight to Wellington for Budget Week.
Historic Step Forward: Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement
In Parliament, we passed the Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill. It was very special to spend time with hapū members and an honour to speak during this historic moment. Their leaders articulated the main things Maori want: better housing, education and healthcare – things all New Zealanders want and what our government is focused on delivering. National governments have settled around 75% of all Treaty settlements. This is a big step forward for Māori across Tauranga and a launching pad for the next generation.
Monthly Coffee Catch-up at Le Chat Noir
We held another monthly drop-in at Le Chat Noir in Greerton. These are casual opportunities for locals to share ideas, raise concerns or just have a chat. I will be there on the first Monday of each month, from 12–1pm*, and I welcome you to join me at the next one.
*Excluding Public Holidays
Calling all businesses!
I'd love to get out into our community and meet with more of the businesses in Tauranga. It's important that I hear directly from you about the biggest issues facing your business - or to help celebrate your successes with others.
Get in touch with my team - it's easy 07 577 0923 or email sam.uffindell@parliament.govt.nz
Thank you for taking the time to read my update. If you’re eager to make a meaningful contribution and support our vision for a better future, I invite you to join the National Party. As a member, you’ll not only have a voice in shaping our policies but also gain access to exclusive member events and opportunities to participate in party activities. Together, we can work towards creating positive change in our community.
To get started, simply email us at tauranga@national.org.nz and we’ll guide you through the process of becoming a member.
June is already shaping up to be another month of strong progress.
I’m looking forward to connecting with more of you, hearing what matters most and continuing to work hard for our city.
As always, a heartfelt thank you to the people of Tauranga who are out there every day building a good life for themselves and their families. To our local National Party members – your dedication on the ground makes all the difference. I’m truly grateful for your support.
Finally, thank you to my wife and family for your love and support.
Sam Uffindell
MP for Tauranga