How quickly is this year going? Here we are, already in April, well into autumn and looking ahead to Easter.
Four of the last five weeks have been House sitting weeks, with lots going on at Parliament. Travel challenges included White Island volcanic emissions and stormy weather affected flights and roads around New Zealand.
The Iran War is causing havoc for global fuel markets. We are all hopeful that supplies will return to normal as soon as possible. As an island nation at the end of the supply chain, we are uniquely sensitive to these shifts. Rising insurance costs, disrupted logistics, and the price we in Tauranga are seeing at the pump are unwelcome.
Our Government is being proactive, working across every channel, diplomatic and industrial, to ensure fuel security, and our stocks are robust. We have five tankers scheduled to arrive in the next few days, with another ten already en route and expected within the coming weeks. We are staying ahead of this to ensure New Zealanders can keep moving.
My Autumn newsletter is hitting Tauranga letterboxes this week. I hope you enjoy reading it and that you find the resources within it helpful. You can also read the newsletter on line here.
As we look ahead to a month with three short weeks in it, let’s hope that April brings the settled, sunny weather that we’re known for in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty. Enjoy your break this weekend, but if you’re working through Easter, thank you for supporting our community and our visitors. I look forward to seeing you out and about this month.
The Government has announced a review into the Dog Control Act. Too many people are being hurt by poorly trained and badly contained dogs and the Act is no longer fit for purpose. Councils administer the Act via bylaws and they have told Government that they need stronger powers to remove dogs and prosecute bad owners.
The Fisheries Amendment Bill has been a topic of concern over the last week. Please be assured that the Government is not going to remove the minimum size limits for commercial fishers. We will be removing sections of the Bill that remove the minimum size limits during the Select Committee process. If we are not satisfied with the condition of the Bill we will not progress it. I encourage all recreational fishers and concerned members of the public to participate in the submissions process when it opens.
Kiwisaver changes to allow rural workers to withdraw from their KiwiSaver to buy their first home, without having to live in it. Right now, many rural workers like farm managers, country cops and doctors who live in employer-provided accommodation can’t use their KiwiSaver to buy a first home so we’re fixing that.
We are replacing NCEA with a new national qualification to ensure young people have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. While students deserve a world leading education, the current system is not performing well enough. This new qualification will be supported by an internationally comparable curriculum for Years 9 through 13. By clearly outlining what students should learn and when, these changes will bring structure and consistency to our schools. This update will help New Zealand students build strong foundations and ensure the next generation is prepared for the future.
From 1 April, more than a million New Zealanders will see extra support in their pockets. Superannuitants will see increased payments – for example, NZ Superannuation for a married couple who both qualify will lift more than $50 to $1,708 a fortnight. Low-to-middle-income working parents get an extra $50 a week, for up to a year, from the in-work tax credit – helping 143,000 families, with 14,000 more now eligible. Working for Families changes give about $14 extra a fortnight, on average, to 142,000 families. And the family tax credit, benefits and student allowances will also rise on 1 April.
The previous government’s decision to restructure the health system during a pandemic shifted decision making away from the frontline and caused wait times to increase. Because healthcare works best when led by those who understand their communities, Health New Zealand will shift authority to regions, districts, and hospitals starting 1 July. Local health leaders will soon have greater control over their workforce and budgets to ensure faster care. This includes allowing hospitals to recruit staff without central sign off so they can respond quickly to local demand. While Health New Zealand continues to set national standards for consistency, these changes aim to reduce wait times by giving local services the flexibility they need.
In other great health news, Pharmac has announced its decision to fund Trikafta and Alyftrek for for children with cystic fibrosis, regardless of their age, from 1 April 2026.
Each month I host SuperBlues morning tea for our over 65s and we usually have one of my caucus colleagues as guest speaker. In March we broke from tradition and invited Tauranga's Mayor, Mahé Drysdale to join us. We discussed many issues affecting our city, including RMA reform, dog control, a potential amalgamated water service, rating caps, a regional deal, Mauao re-opening and how the TARP system will be applied during future weather events. My April guest will be Tim Costley, MP for Ōtaki. If you'd like to attend, email tauranga@national.org.nz for details.
The National Party Tauranga Electorate held A Day at the Races with a celebrity auction, gourmet lunch and grandstand views of the horse racing. Many dressed in green, it being St Paddy’s week, and we were blessed with sunshine after a gloomy week.
I joined some of our Young Nats at the University of Waikato as they welcomed new students to the Tauranga campus. It’s always interesting to chat to new students as they arrive in our city, ready to begin the next phase in their education journeys.
It’s always great to see new businesses open in downtown Tauranga. With 600 new people moving into offices, galleries and other organisations, the buzz is real. I really enjoyed The Clubhouse, which opened on Grey Street. It’s a fantastic setup for golf fans or learners. You can have a hit at lunch at St Andrew’s or a range of famous international courses. Good bar, lounge and private bays. A good sign of economic growth and a growing city. Come check it!!
Blair and his crew at Waimarino Adventure Park run water based adventures for families and school groups on the banks of the Wairoa River. There are function venues, including a spot for weddings, and rock wall, kayaks, slides, pools and a heap of other fun and educational activities. Just outside Bethlehem, check out Waimarino Adventure Park
I visited the Gate Pa Shopping Centre, where there are many owner-operated shops selling meat, fruit and veg, drinks, electronics and other goods. I visited Eastern Hi Fi, The Fresh Market, The Culinary Council, Kiwi Fresh Meats and Black Forest Gourmet Butchery, with a side trip to Mitre 10. People tell me business is improving. I heard positive feedback about business growth as a result of Government economic management, with understandable concern about increasing fuel costs as international events drag on. I’ll need to make another trip soon because there are lots more business owners to meet in Gate Pa and Greerton.
It was fantastic to catch up with the staff and students at Tauriko School, seeing the energy in the classrooms and hearing about the latest projects from our young learners. This school is such a vibrant part of our Tauranga community and it is great to see the kids thriving in such a supportive environment.
Tauranga Boys' College hosted the annual Bay of Plenty Regional Debating Championships. It’s a great way for young people to learn about the power of speech and how to argue effectively. Having to defend a position that doesn’t reflect your own personal views takes discipline and critical thinking. Well done to these 46 teams for representing their schools in Tauranga - no doubt we’ll see some of you in Parliament’s debating chamber before long.
I was honoured to catch up with Ōtūmoetai Intermediate Principal Henk Popping before he retired this month, after 25 years leading the school. Henk was a founder of the Zespri AIMS Games which is a key New Zealand event for intermediate students held in Tauranga each year. Thank you to the student leaders who took me on a tour of the school and I enjoyed meeting staff over a cuppa and biscuit baked in the home economics kitchen.
My friend and colleague Hon Tama Potaka visited Tauranga last week and I introduced him to some of the amazing people who help the homeless community. Renee from Good Neighbour showed us the mobile laundry and shower unit that travels to community meals, and the Associate Housing Minister addressed some concerns about the Move On legislation that has been proposed. My team and I are in frequent contact with providers to the homeless community as we work towards a safe solution for the homeless and other users of our city’s infrastructure.
The Multicultural Festival at The Historic Village, Tauranga is a standout annual event for Tauranga. Thank you, Premila, for the hard work you put in each year to make this event so special. I appreciated your invitation to speak at the opening, where we celebrated the immense contribution of our international community. Whether we arrived five years ago or our roots go back five hundred, we are all Kiwis sharing in this city's future. I also checked out some amazing food and visited some new exhibitions at The Incubator Creative Hub.
The Mens' Shed on 17th Avenue is a treasure trove of old-school toys and homewares, many crafted from wood by Bryce and his friends who spend their days in this community shed. They love to fix and restore furniture and they also custom design special pieces on request. The shop is open Mon-Sat 8-3. You won't find any mass produced plastic toys here, just artisan items hand made with love.
Tauranga has a lot more cultural events than it did five years ago and we are all the better for it! The Third Culture Film Festival showcases outstanding films from around the world with a strong focus on cultural connection and creative exchange. The Casino Royale theme was brilliant. Well done Harry Oram and your team for making this happen!
Live for More Surf therapy for our high risk youth. Making waves in the hearts and souls of these young men. Amazing outcomes getting away from gangs, off drugs, into work and education, teaching love, self-discipline and respect. Krista Dixon and team - you are champions.
It was great to take my family to the Tauranga X-Race in the Mount. Awesome family times. Parents and kids paired up to compete a series of ten challenges. Glorious start to a Sunday in our lovely community.
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I hold regular National Party member events each month and, if you are a member, you’ll automatically be invited to all events. Non-members can still come - just reply to this email to book your attendance or find out more. Even better, join up here: Become a Member | National Party.
As always, thank you to all our members and volunteers for your support. We couldn't do this without you!
Best regards,
Sam Uffindell
MP for Tauranga
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