Securing a future for our young people
Every young person deserves the chance to build a strong future. That means getting into work, training, or study, not being trapped on welfare.
For too long, the system has sent the wrong signals. At the moment, a young person who goes on Jobseeker under the age of 25 is expected to spend an average of 18 years on a benefit over their lifetime. That is an unacceptable waste of potential, and our Government is determined to turn it around.
We are making two big changes to put young people on a better path.
We are tightening access to Jobseeker Support for 18- and 19-year-olds. From November 2026, they will only receive support if they genuinely cannot rely on their parents. Families should step up first, not the taxpayer. Support remains for those in real hardship, but welfare won't be the default option.
We are also rewarding young people who stay in work. Through Community Job Coaching, young jobseekers get one-on-one support to find employment. If they stay off benefit for 12 months, they receive a $1,000 bonus payment. We are backing young people who back themselves, helping them build independence through work.
These changes break the cycle of long-term welfare dependency and give young New Zealanders every opportunity to get ahead. No one wants to see another generation written off to the benefit system. Every young person should have the chance to succeed.
Yes, to getting things built in Q4
The Government’s relentless focus on growth and pragmatic solutions to help New Zealand get ahead are features of its work programme for the rest of the year. A lot more yes and a lot less no. That is the ethos of this Government and it’s what we will be delivering this quarter.
We are making construction easier and faster, delivering smarter solutions to finance new projects like social housing developments, and pushing for more competition and growth in important sectors. There is no shortage of New Zealanders with great ideas for exciting projects, but they face too many obstacles bringing them to life. The sum of the actions in our Q4 plan will help get things moving. Growth will boost job opportunities and help increase incomes around the country.
The planning system we're introducing to Parliament this quarter will enable farmers, building owners and businesses to do more with their own property, cutting through red tape.
We're modernising how housing developments and infrastructure are financed, creating an express lane to build new supermarkets under Fast-Track, and introducing a new system for earthquake-prone buildings that will save New Zealanders over $8.2 billion.
These actions will change the game for ambitious Kiwis who want to build things, grow their businesses, and contribute to a stronger economic future for New Zealand.
The Government has delivered the largest network of new marine protected areas in more than a decade.
It includes 19 new protected areas covering 800 square kilometres of the Gulf, nearly tripling protection. Along with a further 12 high protection areas, 5 seafloor protected areas, and 2 marine reserve extensions.
This is a once-in-a-generation step that balances communities, the economy, and the environment. Which means healthier waters, more fish, and a Gulf to hand on to the next generation.
This builds on 10+ years of work, beginning with the Sea Change Project in 2013, and involving iwi, the Hauraki Gulf Forum, environmental groups, fishers, tourism, and local communities.
In the decades to come, we expect to see fish stocks like tāmure (snapper) and kōura (rock lobster) rebuilding, richer kelp forests creating underwater nurseries, and seabird colonies found nowhere else in the world living healthier on offshore islands.
The Reserve Bank has cut the OCR by another 50 basis points to 2.5 per cent.
This is good news for businesses and Kiwi families with mortgages. It means a family with a 25-year, $500,000 mortgage will be $400 better off a fortnight compared to the middle of last year
The Government is playing its role in getting the economy going – we have stopped wasteful spending and got inflation under control.
This will help businesses to grow creating more jobs and higher wages
The Government is focused on growing our economy by backing our farmers and growers, promoting tourism, investing in infrastructure, and chasing trade deals and making New Zealand a great place to do business.
Tom’s News
Bay of Plenty Senior Music Festival
I had a fantastic time at the Bay of Plenty Senior Music Festival recently. 160 choristers from nine retirement village choirs and two Barbershop groups delivered some brilliant performances.
With an average age of 84, these performers showed that passion for music has no age limit.
With Helena van der Merwe, who alongside Tauranga City Council organised the Bay of Plenty Senior Music Festival. Over 430 people attended, and the event raised more than $6,000 for Waipuna Hospice. Thank you, Helena, for your tireless hard work in bringing this event together.
Papamoa Volunteer Fire Brigade Honours Night
Great to attend the Papamoa Volunteer Fire Brigade Honours Night and present QFF Glen Beattie with his Long Service and Good Conduct medal for 14 years of service.
Fourteen years of dedication to keeping our community safe is an incredible commitment from Glen, his wife Monique, and their whole family.
Our volunteer brigades are the backbone of emergency services in communities right across New Zealand. Thank you to all the firefighters and their families for the sacrifices you make.
Whats our "demonym"
C'mon Bay of Plenty- help me out here......whats our "demonym"
Let me explain:
"demonym"
a noun used to denote the natives or inhabitants a particular country, region, city, etc..
As NZers we are known as "Kiwis" other regions (for example) Aucklanders, Cantabrians etc all have a demonym- so what are we known as in the Bay of plenty??
Check out my video: Facebook
Kalia Saia
Incredible bravery from 10-year-old Kalia Saia from Welcome Bay. Last week at Baywave, Kalia spotted a 3-year-old lying motionless at the bottom of the busy wave pool. Without hesitation, she dove down, pulled the child to the surface, and got her to lifeguards who performed CPR.
The toddler has since made a full recovery and is home with her family. Kalia's quick thinking likely saved this little girl's life. A true Bay of Plenty hero.
Tom’s Events
The Bay of Plenty Home Show
Is on this weekend at Mercury Baypark. Come and find me at Stand #500 - would love to chat with you about what's happening in our community!
Coffee Catch Ups are back!
'Drop-in Clinic'
20 October 12:30pm- 2:30pm
This Week in New Zealand History
First day of ten o'clock closing
1967
Last day of six o'clock closing at the Porirua Tavern (Alexander Turnbull Library, PADL-000185)
Fifty years of six o’clock closing of pubs had ended two days earlier, after a referendum convinced the government to change the antiquated licensing law.
Introduced as a ‘temporary’ wartime efficiency measure in December 1917, 6 p.m. closing was made permanent the following year.
The ‘six o’clock swill’ became part of the New Zealand way of life. In the short period between the end of the working day and closing time, men crowded together to drink as much beer as they could before bar service ended and 15 minutes of ‘supping-up’ time was announced.
A mood for change began to emerge in the 1960s. The growing restaurant and tourism industries questioned laws that made it difficult to sell alcohol with meals, while members of sports clubs and the Returned Services’ Association also sought a change.
When the government held a national referendum on 23 September 1967, 64.4% of voters supported a move to 'later closing, the actual hours of sale to be decided according to local conditions'. Most local authorities opted for pubs to open between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m., and the last six o'clock swill took place on Saturday 7 October. On Monday the 9th, a new era of more civilised drinking began.
This Week in Parliament – Briefly
New investment to boost NZ bioeconomy and drive export-led growth
A major government investment in cutting-edge science will unlock new economic opportunities by transforming New Zealand’s unique natural resources into high-value pharmaceutical and bio-based exports, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti announced.
Bowel screening expansion underway to save more lives
From Monday, the starting age for free bowel screening will be lowered from 60 to 58 in Northland, Auckland, and the South Island, with the rest of the North Island to follow in March 2026, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
CER Trade Ministers agree to fast track Single Economic Market agenda
New Zealand and Australia have agreed to fast-track work on a more ambitious Single Economic Market (SEM), as Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell concluded the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Monarto, South Australia.
Payment to Samoan Government re HMNZS Manawanui
The New Zealand Government has made a payment to the Government of Samoa of Samoan Tala (SAT) 10 million (approximately NZD 6 million) following the grounding and sinking of HMNZS Manawanui in October last year.
Fixing what matters: Attendance services to reach twice as many absent students
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is changing how the Government contracts school attendance services to increase capacity to reach chronically absent students.
Over 90,000 plumbing products flow into New Zealand
The first tranche of overseas building products has received the stamp of approval to be used in New Zealand following a law change to expand access, bringing more than 90,000 products onto the market.
Initial teaching training needs strengthening
The latest report from the OECD’s Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2024 shows initial teaching training (ITE) isn’t sufficiently supporting new teachers to be confident in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
When the government takes attendance seriously, so do Kiwis
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the Education Review Office’s (ERO) report showing that parent and student attitudes to school attendance have improved under this Government.
Frontline partnerships deliver job seeker support
Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says a concerted focus by MSD on frontline partnerships is helping better prepare jobseekers to match with prospective employers.
New phase for space, advanced aviation sectors
The space and advanced aviation sectors are entering a phase defined by scale, ambition and global relevance, Space Minister Judith Collins says.
Procurement reboot helps Kiwi businesses
New Zealand businesses will have a better shot at winning government contracts as a result of changes to government procurement rules, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says
Clear regulations for methamphetamine in rentals
Tenants and landlords will soon benefit from clear rules for safely managing methamphetamine residue in rental properties, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
Frontline roles up, spending on contractors down
Frontline roles in the public service have increased in the past two years, while spending on contractors and consultants has fallen $915 million, Public Service Minister Judith Collins says
AI-powered mental health support tool launched
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Sir John Kirwan launched Ask Groov, Health New Zealand’s first endorsed AI powered wellbeing guide for adults.
Passport processing times slashed by two-thirds
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says that increased efficiency for passport processing has resulted in an 18-day improvement to wait times compared to when Labour was last in Government.
Bay of Plenty Electorate Office
3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa
07 542 0505