National to lift KiwiSaver contributions
A National Government elected next year will ensure Kiwis are more financially secure in retirement by gradually increasing KiwiSaver contributions to match Australia’s 12 per cent rate.
Financial security for retired people comes through home ownership and supplementing New Zealand Superannuation with long-term savings. KiwiSaver supports both of those, so National will strengthen it further. In Government, we are already lifting the default rate of KiwiSaver contributions for employers and employees from 3 per cent to 4 per cent by 1 April 2028.
But even after those changes, KiwiSaver contributions would be much lower than the equivalent scheme in Australia. For Kiwis working in New Zealand, that means smaller KiwiSaver balances and less financial security than friends or family working and saving in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.
Smaller retirement balances present a challenge for New Zealand as a whole, too, as we rely more on investment from offshore to fund the infrastructure, start-ups, and housing we need to grow our economy, create jobs and lift incomes.If we’re serious about building the future, and I am, it’s time to aim higher.
This is an important number, 38,000
It’s how many fewer victims of serious violent crime there are than when we came into Government. New Zealand is getting safer under National and we’re pleased to see that progress, but even one victim is still too many. We’ll keep working to bring it down even further.
Digitising healthcare to put patients first
Repeating your medical history at every appointment will soon be a thing of the past, with Kiwis set to get faster access to care as part of a 10-year plan to bring New Zealand's health system into the digital age. Our health system is being held back by outdated, disconnected technology. Right now, 65 per cent of hospitals still use paper-based notes, and critical information doesn't flow between your GP and hospital in many parts of the country.
This means patients often have to repeat their story multiple times, and clinicians waste valuable time on paperwork instead of treating patients.Currently, Health New Zealand has over 6000 digital systems – one different computer system for every 15 staff members. That's the result of years of underinvestment and quick fixes instead of proper planning.To address this, we're releasing New Zealand's first Health Digital Investment Plan – a 10-year roadmap to modernise healthcare, with investments in technologies that will make a real difference for patients right now."
The plan’s five core objectives are to improve outcomes for patients and families, support clinicians, stabilise critical infrastructure, build foundations for innovation, and enable data-driven decision-making.
National marks two years of fixing the basics
National marks its second anniversary in Government and is proudly looking back on two years of hard work fixing the basics in the economy, law and order, education, health and infrastructure. Under the previous Government, the basic things that Kiwis care about had gone in the wrong direction.
The economy was damaged with inflation at a record high and sky-high mortgage repayments. Ram raids were a daily occurrence, and school kids’ achievement was plummeting.We said our Government would fix these basics to get New Zealand back on track. We knew we couldn’t fix them overnight but now we’re seeing real progress.It’s been two years of hard work – not just from our Government, but from businesses large and small, and every New Zealander.
By stopping wasteful government spending, inflation has fallen more than half what it was under Labour, and interest rates have been cut nine times.The result is that someone re-fixing an average mortgage today could expect to save around $10,000 a year, compared to the end of 2023.
We’ve attracted a record number of tourists from Australia.
We’re also making good progress on restoring law and order.
In education, we have banned cellphones in classrooms, mandated an hour each of reading, writing and maths every day, and introduced a structured approach to literacy and numerac..
We’re hiring more doctors and nurses, delivering more operations and cancer treatments.
We’re making it easier for Kiwis to farm, build and grow businesses.
We’re also building safe reliable transport routes with 17 Roads of National Significance and 12 Roads of Regional Significance
National’s plan to fix the basics and build the future is beginning to deliver for Kiwis. Our plan will secure a better and brighter future for New Zealand and for generations to come.
Tom’s News
A Sunday night done right
Wrapping up the weekend with my Dad and Step-Mum locked in a serious battle of Catan. Plenty of laughs, a few questionable trades, and the usual accusations about who’s quietly plotting the longest road. A great way to end a busy week and reset for the next one.
Getting to the end of "Movember"
Look closely... Facebook
If you’d like to support the campaign, you can donate here: https://nz.movember.com/mospace/15366350
The Council is about to begin the next stage of safety improvements around Omanu Way
From the first week of December, they will install two new level pedestrian crossings with lighting on Oceanbeach Road and Maranui Street, upgrade kerb ramps, and add a new shared path linking Maranui Street to Omanu Way. These changes will make it safer and easier for families, beachgoers and residents to move around the area.
The work is expected to take around four weeks to complete. There will be temporary speed reductions and some stop go traffic management while the work is underway.
Construction of the long-awaited next stage of Pāpāmoa’s Plaza’s expansion has started
It’s all happening in Pāpāmoa. Very exciting to see the next stage of Pāpāmoa Plaza’s expansion getting underway this year, with doors set to open in 2026.
The plaza has been described as Pāpāmoa’s “retail heart”, located near factory outlet mall Fashion Island, Pak’nSave and Mitre 10.
Over the years it’s grown from a local shopping centre into a real community hub. Developments like this are so important as our community keeps growing.
Pāpāmoa Emergency Services Food Drive - 2025
It was a full-on evening for the 2025 Pāpāmoa Emergency Services Food Drive, collecting for families who are doing it tough. It's the one night a year we all get together for a fantastic cause.
A huge thanks to all the volunteers who gave thier time that make this happen, over 250 of them!
Pictured here with Bruce & Fareena from the Papamoa Food hub.
If you wish to donate - Here's the link for more info: Papamoa Food Hub.
Seven-year-old Kaia from Pāpāmoa is facing an incredibly tough journey
She’s been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive childhood eye cancer, and after months of treatment here in New Zealand, specialists have advised that her best chance now lies with a world-leading team in Switzerland.
Her family is doing everything they can to get her there, but they need support to cover the significant costs of overseas treatment.
If you’re able to help Kaia and her family, please consider donating or sharing their page. Every bit makes a difference.
Tom’s Events
Next SuperBlues - 8 December
Welcome Bay "Drop-in Clinics" 2026
Papamoa Community Markets - 2026
It's begining to look a lot like.........
This Week in New Zealand History
New Zealand's first family planning clinic opens
28 November 1953
An early consultation at the Wellington clinic (Family Planning)
For many years, the Family Planning Association (FPA) had tried to establish a clinic at which women could access information and services relating to contraception and fertility. In the early 1950s, several factors combined to enable the launch of the first family planning clinic in New Zealand.
One was the arrival of Ena Compton, a British family planning nurse who had worked at a clinic in London. The FPA found her quite by chance and she was immediately pressed into service. Compton brought more than medical knowledge: her practical experience convinced the local FPA members that a clinic was feasible. Another piece of the puzzle fell into place as a result of another chance encounter, with Dr Lyndsay Johnstone: if the FPA set up a clinic, he would be interested in working there.
All that was needed now was the clinic itself. After failing to secure space in an existing doctor’s premises, the Auckland branch widened its search for two rooms with hot and cold running water, heating and toilet facilities. Auckland President Aethea Northey, Glenys Lowe and their three young children viewed a suite of rooms above F.V. Anderson’s Remuera Garage at 305 Remuera Rd, Auckland. They leased these for £3 a week (equivalent to $170 in 2020) and New Zealand’s first birth control clinic opened on 28 November 1953.
The clinic saw 215 women in its first four months. While most were married women seeking contraceptive advice, a few had questions about fertility.
This Week in Parliament - Briefly
Strengthening the immigration system
The Government’s continuing to strengthen and build trust in New Zealand’s immigration system with the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Bill passing its third reading in Parliament.
Youth targeted by Social Investment Fund
Children with parents in prison are among those who will benefit from early intervention through seven new projects funded by the Social Investment Fund.
Building reforms deliver consumer protections
The Government has unveiled safeguarding measures to ensure building owners are protected under a more productive and ambitious building consent system.
New investor visa to back local businesses
Applications are now open for the Business Investor Visa, a new immigration pathway designed to attract experienced businesspeople who want to invest in and grow established businesses in New Zealand.
Supporting the health and wellbeing of New Zealand’s farming community
The Government has renewed its investment in the rural wellbeing programme Farmstrong, Associate Minister for ACC Nicola Grigg has announced.
Costs outweigh benefits of Cook Strait tug
The Government has decided not to procure dedicated ocean response capabilities for the Cook Strait after a significant escalation in costs and little clear benefit, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop.
The Government allocated $600,000 in Budget 2024 to Maritime NZ to develop a business case for emergency ocean response capability (EORC), focusing on Cook Strait.
New logistics facilities for Burnham
Defence Minister Judith Collins opened an Army maintenance support facility at Burnham Military Camp, and broke ground on the next project in the Army logistics upgrade.
White Ribbon Day – Preventing violence against Women
As a nation we must join together to prevent violence against women, an issue that is tragically still too prevalent and under discussed in our communities.
Simpler, more cost-effective local government
The Government has announced proposals that would fundamentally simplify how we plan our cities and regions and make it far easier to build the future New Zealanders deserve.
Cheaper electricity for Chatham Islands
The completion of a $10 million wind turbine project in the Chatham Islands will reduce both local power prices and carbon emissions, Associate Minister for Regional Development Mark Patterson says. Minister Patterson will officially open the project on the Chatham Islands this Thursday.
Long-term plan to rebuild Defence estate
The Government has unveiled a long-term plan to modernise Defence Force infrastructure that will strengthen military resilience and create building and construction jobs across New Zealand.
AI navigation to deliver faster access to support
New Zealanders seeking mental health support will soon have a better understanding of what services are available to them, thanks to government funding for Whakarongorau to develop a mental health AI navigation platform, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says.
Backing skills for business events sector
The Government has announced it is investing in the New Zealand Certificate in Business Events (Level 4) “Te Haeata”, a new industry-led qualification designed to build a skilled workforce for New Zealand’s business events sector, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
New one-stop shop for supermarket builds
The Christchurch City Council has been selected to serve as a one-stop consenting authority for large-scale supermarket developments.
Going for Housing Growth: Reforming infrastructure funding
The Government is progressing its suite of reforms aimed at improving how infrastructure is funded and financed to support housing and urban growth across New Zealand, Housing Minister Chris Bishop, Local Government Minister Simon Watts, and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson say.
Global-first new Civil Aviation rule to slash red tape
A global-first advanced aviation rule will slash red-tape and enable innovators to quickly bring new ideas to market, Space Minister Judith Collins and Associate Transport Minister James Meager say.
Positive Reserve Bank outlook heartening
Kiwi families and businesses will be heartened by the Reserve Bank’s positive outlook for 2026 on the back of another reduction in the Official Cash Rate, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
Reserve Bank refresh continues
Former investment banker Rodger Finlay has been appointed Chair of the Reserve Bank and businesswoman Rhiannon McKinnon has been appointed to the Bank’s Board.
Inquiry into the Phillips children disappearance
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced a Public Inquiry will be held into the disappearance of the Phillips children.
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