Movember Update
It's coming along nicely and so is my fundraising target!
I'm raising funds and awareness this Movember for all the dads, brothers, sons and mates in our lives. I need your help. Please donate to support men's health.
If you’d like to support the campaign, you can donate here: https://nz.movember.com/mospace/15366350
New Zealand should be a country where if you work hard, you can get ahead
New Zealand should be a place where if you work hard, you can build a better life for yourself and your family. That’s a core value for the National Party as well, and it’s why we’re firmly opposed to a capital gains tax and other new taxes that would make it harder for people to get ahead.
Let me explain more: Facebook
Good to have Minister Chris Bishop in the Bay of Plenty recently
To share updates on housing, transport and Fast Track. A big part of this work is rewriting the RMA so it’s easier and more affordable to build the things New Zealand needs, like schools, roads and hospitals.
The RMA will be replaced by two new acts: the Spatial Planning Act and the Natural and Built Environment Act, both set to be introduced to Parliament before the end of the year.
Really valuable for local businesses to hear directly from the Minister about the Government’s plans and the progress underway.
Help for home buyers welcomed
Changes to bank lending rules that will help people to buy their first homes have been welcomed.
The Reserve Bank has announced that it is increasing the percentage of new lending commercial banks can provide to home buyers with smaller deposits. The easing of the Reserve Bank’s Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) restrictions will help more young families to achieve the Kiwi dream of owning their own homes. Presently, commercial banks are only permitted to allocate 20 per cent of new home loan lending to owner-occupiers with deposits of less than 20 per cent.
From next month, banks will be able to allocate 25 per cent of their new home loans to people with deposits of less than 20 per cent. This means more opportunities for people to get a foot on the property ladder. Typically, about 80 per cent of those with deposits of less than 20 percent are first-home buyers who are currently taking advantage of lower prices and lower mortgage rates. Cotality reported that in the three months to September, first-home buyers accounted for a record 27.7 per cent of property purchases nationwide.
The changes to the Reserve Bank’s Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) restrictions take effect on 1 December.
The Reserve Bank has also announced that it is increasing the share of loans commercial banks can make to property investors with deposits of less than 30 per cent from 5 to 10 per cent.The changes follow the Reserve Bank’s introduction of debt-to-income (DTI) restrictions last year.
The Reserve Bank’s view is that the DTI restrictions increase the resilience of the banking system and means LVR restrictions can be eased.
A late night in the house
Back at Parliament for the evening sitting, through until 12am recently.
Even after two years as an MP, I never lose the feeling of how special this place is. It’s a real privilege to be here doing this work on behalf of the Bay of Plenty.
New Zealanders will soon be able to receive 12-month prescriptions for their medicines
Delivering savings to patients on long-term medications.
Currently, doctors and other prescribers can only prescribe most medicines for a maximum of three months at a time. Patients must then pay their GP for a follow-up appointment or to issue a repeat prescription every three months.
This creates unnecessary barriers for patients on stable, long-term medications like asthma inhalers, insulin for diabetes, and blood pressure tablets. It means added costs for patients and more paperwork for health professionals, taking time away from patients with more urgent or complex needs.
From the first quarter of 2026, prescribers will be able to issue prescriptions for up to 12 months if it is clinically appropriate and safe to do so. While patients will still collect their medication from a pharmacy every three months, they will no longer need to return to their doctor for a new prescription each time.
This change could save up to $105 a year in GP fees for patients who need to renew their prescriptions four times annually. It’s a win-win for patients and the health system – fewer avoidable hospitalisations, better health outcomes, and reduced long term costs.
Tom’s News
I had a great afternoon joining the Papamoa Community Patrol as they celebrated an incredible milestone, 25 years of service to our community.
For a quarter of a century, volunteers have given their time to keep Pāpāmoa safe, support local police, and look out for our neighbourhoods.
A huge thank you to every past and present volunteer who has played a part in this work over the last 25 years. Your service is appreciated more than you know.
Community Patrol do great work in our community and they’re always looking for more volunteers..........
It’s a good way to give back and make a real difference in the community.
So, what does my mum think of my job?
I love what I do, and I’m incredibly grateful to serve our beautiful community. As you can imagine it comes with its fair share of pressure.
Here’s what Mum thinks about it all…
Video: Facebook
It was great visiting Tahatai Coast School with Student Leaders Miesha and Jett
Along with Principal Matt Skilton. With over 800 students, the school has a real energy and a strong sense of community.
Tahatai’s vision of Excite, Explore and Empower is clear to see in every part of the school, supported by the values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance and Personal Excellence. These qualities shine through in how students learn, lead and support each other.
Tahatai plays an important role in our community, and it was fantastic to see firsthand how they are helping their young people thrive.
A pretty cool graphic showing how the boundaries of our Bay of Plenty electorate have changed over the years.
It makes one thing pretty clear, as more people have discovered how good life is here, the electorate has had to become geographically smaller to keep everything in balance.
From next year, the electorate will officially become the Mt Maunganui electorate, bringing together Mount Maunganui, Arataki, Omanu, Matapihi, Papamoa, Welcome Bay, Hairini, Maungatapu, Ohauiti, Waimapu and Poike.
These adjustments are nothing new. They’ve happened many times as our population has grown and more and more people have realised they want to call this place home. We really do live in paradise, and the updated boundaries are just another sign of that.
Spotted my face out and about yet?
Here's another one - looking at ya!
Tom’s Events
Next SuperBlues - 8 December
The next Welcome Bay "Drop-in Clinic" - 19 January 2026, 12:30pm - 2:30pm
It's beginning to look a lot like.........
This Week in New Zealand History
Pike River mine explosion
November 2010
Flames burst from a ventilation shaft at the Pike River mine (Iain McGregor/Getty Images)
The Pike River underground coal mine is located in the rugged Paparoa Range, on the West Coast of the South Island. The mine workings were reached via a 2.3-km-long tunnel that intersected with the Brunner coal seam.
At 3.44 p.m. on Friday 19 November 2010, the mine exploded. Twenty-nine men underground died immediately or soon afterwards from the blast or because of the toxic atmosphere this generated. Two men who were some distance from the mine workings managed to escape. After three further explosions over the next nine days, the mine was sealed.
In 2014 the National-led government accepted a decision by Solid Energy, the new owners of the mine, that ‘potentially fatal risk factors’ made it too dangerous to re-enter it and attempt to recover the bodies. The Labour-led government which took office in 2017 reversed this decision. The Pike River Recovery Agency recovered the tunnel as far as the roof fall at the end of the drift in February 2021 at a cost of $51 million, more than double the original budget. No bodies were recovered, and the access tunnel was sealed.
This was the ninth major explosion in a New Zealand underground coal mine, in which a total of 211 men have lost their lives. All the deaths resulted from the explosion of the methane gas which is constantly given off by coal, or through asphyxiation by carbon monoxide and other gases formed after a fire or explosion.
As with most coal mine disasters, the Pike River tragedy would not have happened if established safety procedures had been followed. The mine was new, and the owner, Pike River Coal Ltd, had not completed the systems and infrastructure needed to produce coal safely. The company had borrowed heavily, and with great pressure to get mining under way, numerous warnings of potentially hazardous methane levels were not heeded. The safety inspectors employed by the Department of Labour relied on reports by the company that all safety requirements were being complied with.
The resulting Commission of Inquiry was highly critical of the company’s management as well as of the lack of safety inspections. One of its major recommendations was that the government should set up an independent organisation with specific responsibility for workplace safety. This recommendation was accepted, and Worksafe New Zealand now has statutory responsibility for all safety issues in the workplace, with a designated High Hazards Unit covering industries such as coal mining and oil exploration.
This Week in Parliament - Briefly
Green light for Dunedin Tunnels Trail
The Government is investing $2 million to extend the Dunedin Tunnels Trail and transform Dunedin into a premier cycling destination, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced.
WorkSafe funding aligned for greater transparency
With the Health and Safety reforms underway, a change has been made to how WorkSafe New Zealand’s funding is managed that adds increased accountability, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden confirmed.
Crackdown on underhand business practice
The Government is ratcheting up penalties for misleading advertising and other breaches of fair-trading law to deter underhand business practice.
Trade Minister cautiously welcomes US tariff relief on key exports
Minister for Trade and Investment; and Agriculture, Todd McClay, has cautiously welcomed the United States announcement this week removing the additional reciprocal tariffs on a range of New Zealand agricultural products, including beef, offal, and kiwifruit.
New scam protections for consumers to kick off Fraud Awareness Week
The Government is introducing new legal protections so banks, telecommunications providers and digital platforms can act faster to block suspected online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says.
Easing the cost of new and used imported vehicles
New and used vehicles could become more affordable for Kiwis through changes that will lower importing fees and help keep additional costs from being passed on to consumers, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced.
Consultation begins on Action Plan to support carers
Consultation has started on a new action plan to recognise unpaid or informal carers and to provide a long-term roadmap for making progress on the issues they face, says Associate Social Development Minister, Penny Simmonds.
Space achievers awarded PM’s space prizes
Co-founder and CEO of Dawn Aerospace Stefan Powell and Southland schoolgirl Sophie Ineson are this year’s recipients of the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes.
New Zealand forestry and wood sector shines on successful India trade mission
New Zealand’s forestry and wood-processing sector has taken centre-stage during a highly successful trade mission to India, Forestry; Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says.
Next steps confirmed for SH6 Epitaph Slip site
The Government is progressing a strong pipeline of roading resilience projects in the South Island to ensure local communities, freight, and tourism operators can continue to get where they need to go, South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager says.
Infrastructure Pipeline shows significant increase
The latest quarterly update from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission show the National Infrastructure Pipeline now includes nearly 12,000 infrastructure projects worth a total of $275 billion, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.
Speak up about family violence
As a nation we must speak up and support each other to fix our nation’s tragic history of family violence.
Bills backing skilled tradies pass first reading
Legislation that will allow skilled plumbers and drainlayers to sign off on their own work has passed its first reading in Parliament, alongside a second Bill aimed at raising standards and improving accountability for building professionals.
Strengthening New Zealand’s education system
The Government is taking the next step in strengthening New Zealand’s education system with the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill passing its first reading.
New initiative launched at first Future of Investment and Trade Partnership meeting
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay joined Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership members to launch a new initiative to bolster supply chain resilience in Singapore.
Great Rides deliver $1.28 billion for regional New Zealand
The Government welcomes new data showing New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides are pumping $1.28 billion a year into our local economies, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
Zero households in Emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government has officially ended the use of Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) motels in Rotorua, taking the number of households in CEH from its peak of over 240 households across 13 motels under the previous Government down to zero. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
Law passed to support NZ’s defence and security
Legislation ensuring national security is maintained during industrial action has passed its final reading in Parliament, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.
Ferry solution saves New Zealand $2.3 billion
The Government has saved the taxpayer billions with two new Interislander ferries from Guangzhou Shipyard International and no-nonsense infrastructure in Picton and Wellington, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced.
New safeguards for puberty blocker prescribing
Cabinet has agreed to introduce new safeguards on the prescribing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, while ensuring patients with medical needs can continue to access appropriate care, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
Bill giving ECE sector rights and the regulator purpose passed into law
Associate Education and Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the passing of a law which sets out the purpose of regulating early childhood education (ECE). It also establishes the Director of Regulation, who will administer new and improved ECE licensing criteria, among other things.
Better protection from foreign interference
New Zealand will be better protected from foreign interference with legislation passing in Parliament, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
Stalkers to face full force of the law
Stalking will become a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, following legislation passing its final reading in Parliament Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
New actions to grow the mental health and addiction workforce
The Government is delivering on reducing wait times and growing the frontline mental health and addiction workforce, one year on from the country’s first dedicated workforce plan, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says.
Cell phone ban in schools raising achievement
New research from the Education Review Office (ERO) shows the Government’s decision to ban cell phones in schools is working and is delivering better student outcomes.
Digital trial to boost supermarket competition
The Government is acting to reduce onerous food labelling requirements on new supermarkets seeking to enter the New Zealand grocery market.
NZ and Iceland collaborate on geothermal energy
New Zealand and Iceland signed an agreement to deepen cooperation on geothermal energy development.
Toolkit expanded to address wider gender pay gaps
New Zealand’s first business-backed Gender Pay Gap Toolkit has been expanded to include tools for calculating gender-ethnicity and gender-disability pay gaps. It also features new resources for small to medium sized businesses and a guide to support young women to confidently discuss pay at work, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says.
Modernising building research funding
The Government is reforming building research funding to boost value for money, eliminate duplicate costs and drive innovation in the building sector.
Making New Zealand a better place for young Kiwis
The Government is marking World's Children Day by reinforcing its commitment to make New Zealand a better place for young Kiwis to grow up in and thrive, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says.
Steering our Great Rides into the Future
A new funding arrangement to support the management and maintenance of New Zealand’s 23 iconic Great Rides will enable Kiwis and international visitors to get out to the regions, now and into the future, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
Clean Vehicle Standard Bill passes third reading
The Government passed legislation to slash the Clean Vehicle Standard’s charges and keep additional costs from being passed on to consumers.
38,000 fewer victims of serious violent crime as gang laws mark one year
The Government is tracking well ahead of its violent crime reduction target as it marks one year since its tough gang laws came into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say.
Anti-money laundering law change provides immediate relief for businesses
Basic financial transactions are about to get a whole lot easier with the first in a series of Anti–Money Laundering (AML) red-tape cuts passing its final reading in Parliament, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.
Get In Contact
Bay of Plenty Electorate Office
3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa
07 542 0505