The devastating landslides and flooding from this extreme weather event have hit our Bay of Plenty community hard, particularly in Mount Maunganui and Welcome Bay.
My heart goes out to everyone affected, the families of those who have passed away, those who have lost homes, vehicles, and belongings, and especially the loved ones of those still unaccounted for. This is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with you all during this incredibly difficult time.
I want to express deep gratitude to our incredible first responders, Fire and Emergency, Police, St John, search and rescue teams, Civil Defence, and all the volunteers, who have been working tirelessly through the last 24 hours and continue their efforts right now. Your bravery, skill, and compassion in such dangerous conditions are truly heroic. Thank you for putting yourselves on the line to save lives and support our community.
Please stay away from affected areas to give emergency services clear access, follow official advice, and look out for one another. If you need support or information, reach out to our local Bay of Plenty Civil Defence.
We will get through this together.
Kia kaha.
State of the Nation 2026
The National-led Government will continue its programme of bold reforms to build a future that will provide more opportunities for New Zealanders. It’s been a tough time for Kiwi households and businesses over the last five years and that’s primarily down to high inflation and high interest rates.
On taking office two years ago, our first priority was to fix the basics in the economy by stopping wasteful spending to help lower inflation and interest rates. Since then, inflation has fallen from over 7 per cent to 3 per cent and interest rates have dropped considerably with families now re-fixing from mortgage rates starting with a 7 to rates starting with a 4 or a 5.Fixing the basics in education has seen the number of new entrants achieving at the expected level in reading go from 36 per cent to 58 per cent. In law and order, simple measures like banning gang patches, tougher sentences for criminals and more Police on the beat have resulted in 38,000 fewer victims of violent crime. There is more to do. It is not enough to just fix the basics, but you can’t build the future until you’ve got the fundamentals right.
It’s been two years of hard grind by everyone, but I feel confident now that things are turning around and that recovery has arrived. So, while we will keep our eye on fixing the basics, we can now turn more focus toward building the future.
General Election to be held on 7 November
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that the 2026 General Election will be held on Saturday 7 November. Continuing the recent tradition of announcing the election date early in the year ensures New Zealanders have certainty Kiwis can also have certainty that our Government will continue governing throughout the year to deliver on our plan to fix the basics and build the future. When we took office, the country was going in the wrong direction, and it’s taken a lot of hard work in the last two years to start turning things around. Through careful economic management and by stopping wasteful spending, inflation has fallen from over 7 per cent under Labour to just 3 per cent now – resulting in considerable interest rate drops, taking pressure off homeowners. The economy is picking up, with increasing business and consumer confidence, building and manufacturing taking off, and exports doing incredibly well. Along with the Free Trade Agreement with India, these results show that with a National-led Government, Kiwis can look forward to more prosperity and opportunity, higher wages, lower mortgage costs, and a brighter future for themselves, their children, and grandchildren.
In law and order, police are more visible on the beat, there are 38,000 fewer victims of crime, youth offending is down by 16 per cent and ram raids are down by 85 per cent. In schools, our focus on teaching the basics brilliantly has seen the number of new entrants achieving in reading jump from 36 per cent to 58 per cent. Continuing to deliver on our plan to fix the basics and build the future so that Kiwis around the country get more results like these will remain our focus in the lead up to the election later this year.”
The Prime Minister has advised the Governor-General of the election date. The Government’s intention is that the House will rise on 24 September, with Parliament dissolved on 1 October. Writ day will be on 4 October, and nominations will close at noon on 8 October. Advance voting will begin on 26 October and the last day for the return of the writ will be 3 December.
I’ll be standing in the new Mt Maunganui electorate and if I’m given the chance I’ll keep working hard for both the communities I represent now and the new ones ahead.
We’ve made a lot of progress fixing the basics and now we’re building the future. Two ticks blue.
Proud to call the Bay of Plenty home!
Summer here is unbeatable: great beaches, epic views from Mauao and Pāpāmoa Hills, and hidden gems like Ōmanawa Falls.
Check out this piece on why nothing beats a Bay of Plenty summer: incredible scenery, local events, and our unbeatable backyard.
I enjoyed chatting with locals at the Welcome Bay Community Centre.
Thanks to everyone who came along to the first 'Drop In Clinic' of 2026
I will be there every month and it’s a chance for you to share your local issues, concerns, and questions with me.
I spent a fantastic afternoon recently walking Mount Maunganui with Jay from Mount Mainstreet!
We popped into local businesses, chatted with owners and staff, and heard directly about the real wins, the challenges they're facing on the ground, and how things are tracking right now.
It was great getting that unfiltered feedback, and Jay and I are already looking forward to the next walk-around in a few months. I’m committed to making these visits a regular part of staying connected with our local businesses and keeping the conversation going strong.
Good news for Hairini residents and commuters in the Bay of Plenty!
The trial reopening of the Hairini Street slip lane onto Turret Road has been extended until March 2026. This allows more time to evaluate its impact before a final decision is made.
Originally planned for 20 October 2025 to 20 January 2026, the extension keeps improved access for locals and visitors while prioritising safety: the lane is buses-only from 6:30am–9:30am weekdays.
This builds on strong community feedback, helping avoid those annoying SH29 roundabout detours. Full details and ways to share your views: https://letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/sliplanetrial
I Joined some former Black Caps and All Blacks who took part in the Hot Spring Spas T20 Black Clash with Health Minister Simeon Brown for a walk through Tauranga Hospital’s children’s and older people’s wards.
Really special to be able to do, and great to see the smiles on their faces.These stars put rivalry aside to bring smiles to kids in the children's ward.
Proud to see our local sporting heroes giving back.
I enjoyed chatting with some folk at Bay Sands Village in Mount Maunganui recently.
The main topic of course was the Retirement Villages Act. We've recently announced reforms to improve fairness, clarity and giving residents and their families more certainty. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & feelings with me.
SuperBlues - coming up
Papamoa Community Markets - 2026
This Week in New Zealand History
First day of competition at Christchurch Commonwealth Games
January 1974
Dick Tayler collapses after winning the 10,000 m (Tom Duffy/Getty Images)
The opening ceremony of the ‘Friendly Games’ had featured performances by schoolchildren and a Māori concert party. Next day, Canterbury runner Dick Tayler ensured the success of the Games with a surprise victory for the host nation in the 10,000 m track race.
Tayler’s effort was even more memorable because the field included English world record-holder David Bedford and three top-flight Kenyans, whose over-ambitious early pace played into Tayler’s hands. The Kiwi’s cat-and-mouse tactics against another Englishman, David Black, in the latter stages of the race before he pulled away on the final lap made it one of the Games’ signature moments. His winning time of 27 minutes 46.4 seconds was then the sixth fastest 10,000 m ever run. No New Zealander ran significantly faster until Zane Robertson recorded 27 minutes 33.67 seconds at the Rio Olympics in 2016. At 25, Tayler’s best years should have been ahead of him. Instead, his career was ended within months by the onset of arthritis. Dick Tayler was made an inaugural member of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
The Week in Parliament - Briefly
NZ accepts Vice Chair role at upcoming World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has been appointed Vice Chair for the World Trade Organisation’s 14th Ministerial Trade Negotiation Conference, for a second consecutive time following his role at MC13 in Abu Dhabi two years ago.
New Zealand and Kiribati enhance partnership
New Zealand and Kiribati have enhanced their Pacific partnership, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Kiribati Vice President Dr Teuea Toatu announced
Government backs economic growth in Southland
Southland is set for a major economic boost, with the Government committing a $3.1 million loan through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to kickstart an industrial subdivision near Gore, Associate Minister for Regional Development Mark Patterson announced
New Zealand and Palau eye next two Pacific Forums
New Zealand and Palau have agreed to cooperate closely on Pacific regional issues, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says
Pharmac proposes funding lifechanging cystic fibrosis medication for all ages
Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes public consultation on Pharmac’s proposal to fund Trikafta and Alyftrek for children with cystic fibrosis, regardless of their age.
Pharmac’s proposal, if feedback is positive, will be effective from 1 April 2026.
Mental health co-response teams coming to first four regions
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today announced the first four new mental health co-response team locations that will work alongside Police to respond to 111 calls.
Bay of Plenty Electorate Office
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07 542 0505
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Thanks,
Tom.