Lots of people have said that October was the fastest month this year. It really did seem to zip past quickly. I packed in lots of meetings with amazing people, visited some awesome businesses and attended some excellent sporting events, as well as sat in Parliament for a solid 3 week sitting block.
I’ve had some interesting conversations on social media about the cost of driving on Takitimu Drive while it’s a speed-restricted road work zone. I have written to NZTA requesting a reduction of the toll. We are excited to see the progress on the Northern Link, but come on NZTA, it’s a big ask to charge car drivers $2.10 per trip when it’s a work site. Our constituents want a discount till the road’s finished. I’ll report back when NZTA reply to my letter.
My Spring newsletter was delivered to letterboxes throughout the Tauranga electorate in October. If you'd like to read it online, there's a digital copy here.
Health updates
There’s been positive news in the elective surgery waitlist times in the Bay of Plenty, with an increase to 79% of patients receiving elective procedures within four months and 58% of patients being seen by a specialist within four months.
The National-led government has recently announced 140 new hospital beds for greater hospital capacity around New Zealand, boosting capacity while easing pressure on EDs.
Also in health news, we’re lowering the starting age for free bowel screening – down from 60 to 58 for all of the North Island in March next year. Labour had the bowel screening age at 50 for Maori and 60 for everyone else. We treat everyone the same, no matter what their ethnicity. 122,000 will be eligible for free screening in the first 12 months of the new structure.
And the first step of the nationwide breast screening age extension is underway, with women aged 70 and 74 now eligible for free screening, the first step in a four-year rollout. Each October for the next three years, eligibility will extend to include women aged 71, 72, and 73. And we’re helping new mums with choices about after-birth care, extending postnatal stays to 3 days.
Economic Updates
National backs farmers. Our food and fibre exports are continuing to grow, representing over 82% of our export income. Recently released figures show that, in the year to June 2025, export revenue was up 12% to $59.9 billion. Meat and wool exports were up 8% and horticulture up 19% and farmer confidence has grown from -66% in 2023 to +33%. How great is that?
Zespri has just finished its biggest season ever. This year’s crop of 215 million trays has been the largest yet! This brings billions and billions of dollars into our economy. It creates jobs, generates tax receipts, encourages more spending, and generates positive momentum right through our economy. Thank you to all of our hard working growers, pickers, packers, marketers and everyone across the industry. You are the lifeblood of the Bay of Plenty economy. I’m very proud to be a part of a kiwifruit family and live within our kiwifruit region.
The government has reformed RMA legislation to remove council involvement in the backyard plans of thousands of New Zealand property owners. Kiwis will soon be able to erect simple, 70 m 2 granny flats without having to apply for resource consents, meaning councils will be freed up to focus on more complex building applications. A further red tape reduction is around the setback distances between buildings and boundaries, with no more than a metre required between the boundary and sheds up to 30 m2, and no setback needed at all for 10 m2 sheds. These RMA updates will be helpful for extended families, employers and the building sector.
With lower interest rates, kiwi homeowners with mortgages are paying less to banks each month. In October 2023 the average mortgage repayment was nearly $850 per week. In October 2025 the average mortgage repayment is under $650. That’s a $10k per year saving for the average mortgage holder!
Presently, only 20 per cent of the new loans banks are allowed to make to owner-occupiers can go to buyers who have deposits of less than 20 per cent of the value of their properties, but in October, The Reserve Bank is announced its proposal to increase that limit of new lending to 25 per cent. That will make more funding available to first-home buyers. The Reserve Bank is also proposing to increase the amount banks can lend to residential property investors with deposits of less than 30 per cent of the value of their properties from 5 to 10 percent.
Community Helpers
I like to highlight the value that our community’s voluntary sector provides. Meeting with community helpers like Baywide Community Law is something I do regularly and I appreciated the time Fiona spent talking through some of the services her organisation provides. Anyone in Tauranga can access free legal information and resources with answers to common queries. There is also a community law clinic where those who qualify can access free legal advice.
A key message from Baywide Community Law and also from my meeting with Age Concern is the importance of establishing an enduring power of attorney (EPOA), especially as we age. Having an EPOA is crucial for anyone entering aged care or a retirement village, and if elderly patients are hospitalised, they may not be allowed to return home without an EPOA in place. This document ensures that your wishes for care and the management of your personal property and finances are carried out correctly. Without one, your family may need to apply to the courts for authority to make decisions for you if you’re incapacitated.
Here to help u is run by a special group of volunteers and connectors in the Bay of Plenty where you can find a wide range of help resources, including community health practitioners at 32 medical centres, online therapy at www.justathought.co.nz and many other types of support.
I regularly meet with local Police and in October I connected with Community Constables in my electorate, including Chris, Tauranga’s Community Constable. I also joined Police and St John Ambulance officers for shifts in their patrols. I appreciate the work our first responders do and I admire their ability to remain calm in tense situations. Being at the front line, dealing with life threatening challenges, is tough work, which they do with compassion, professionalism and integrity.
Wellington Goings On
During October’s sitting block I was in Wellington for some important events held at Parliament. It was an honour to host Eye Health Aotearoa alongside my parliamentary colleague Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, ophthalmologists and all the eye care professionals in parliament. The message is clear: get your eyes checked to give you the best chance of saving your sight into your old age. 90% of blindness or vision loss is preventable.
We also marked Mental Health Week with the launch of a new platform to help New Zealanders access tools to manage stress and mental health challenge. It’s a free app called Groov and it’s available here for iOS and Android devices.
I spoke on the political panel at the Valuing Life Summit, hosted by Medicines NZ and Patient Voice Aotearoa. We are committed to putting more funding into medicines that improve and extend people’s lives. We put patients first. $604 million in additional funding has helped provide 66 new cancer and other medicines and extended healthcare to nearly 250,000 Kiwis.
Wellington Free Ambulance was at Parliament demonstrating CPR to our Health Minister Simeon Brown MP, MPs and staff. Understanding how to perform CPR can be the difference between life and death. It’s critical we all know the basics; you never know when you, a loved one or a complete stranger may need it.
Out and about in Tauranga
It was great to get to some October sporting and cultural events locally. There were Kabaddi tournaments at Aquinas College and also in Te Puke. Cool celebrations of sport and Punjabi culture with lots of interesting foods to try too as well as at Diwali celebrations.
Marking Mental Health Week in Tauranga, I took the kids to FluroFest, organised by Youth Voices Action - YVA. The theme was Top Up Together, focusing on the five ways to wellbeing: Take Notice, Give, Be Active, Connect and Keep Learning.
EPIC Families: founded by Freddie Bennett and Dr Sarah Moll of Bay Paediatrics, Extraordinary Parents and Incredible Children is a community initiative aimed at empowering families with understanding, confidence and connection. I meet many constituents who have neurodiverse children, and having world-class expertise available right here in Tauranga is a game changer.
Catching up with the community
Skin cancer is a real killer. NZ has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Many will lose their lives as a result. If you have a family history or a fair complexion you are particularly at risk. I had my annual checkup (I am in the high risk category) with Korina at Skinspots Skin Cancer Clinic. Don’t let something seemingly small and insignificant turn into something life changing or life ending. Get checked, particularly if you’re at higher risk.
Other visits in October included Accadia Manor retirement village and Grace of India Restaurant where I enjoyed connecting with retirees, owners and staff. I spent more time than usual on our roads, thanks to weather disruptions at Wellington and Tauranga Airports. There was a complex process of rental car hiring and returning involving cross-party arrangements between the local National, ACT and Labour MPs, and I drove a taxi for the first time when my driver suffered a migraine and asked me to take the wheel after dropping the rental car back in Rotorua.
Getting out and about with family
I took my dad to the cricket at Bay Oval and I also met legendary cricketing great, Sir Richard Hadlee. The whole family managed to get to the top of Mount Maunganui, I took the kids to Diwali celebrations and Julia and I enjoyed a night celebrating with everyone from the Omanu Surf Life Saving Club. It was a celebration of their members and high achievers - these legends save lives and keep our waters safe. I really loved the sense of community within the Club, with generations of families all involved and looking out for one another.
A special thank you to my valued National Party Members, with whom I meet regularly at events throughout the electorate. I am grateful for the support my members provide and I couldn't do this job without them.
I like to support Tauranga hospitality businesses while sharing news and hearing members' perspectives and feedback. If you'd like to join us this month become a member to receive your invitation here or reply to this email for details.
I also hold regular networking functions with the Tauranga business community and if you'd like to come along to connect with me, my team and other business owners and staff, reply here or email me to register so we can send you an invitation: taurangamp@parliament.govt.nz.