National is helping Kiwis save time, money and hassle.
Most light cars under 14 years old will move to two-yearly WoFs (up from yearly), and new cars will go four years before their second WoF. Older cars, where the safety risk is higher, will still be checked more regularly.
McClay leads delegation to India for FTA signing
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has departed for New Delhi to sign the New Zealand – India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), leading a cross-party delegation including MPs and more than 30 Kiwi business representatives. This landmark agreement provides huge opportunities for New Zealand exporters in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies.
The signing of this FTA is the latest example of the Government delivering on its promise to strengthen our relationship with India and supports New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.
Negotiations concluded in December 2025. In India, Mr McClay will mark Anzac Day in a dawn service where he will recognise New Zealanders, Australians and Indians who fought for their country. He will also host a joint New Zealand-India business summit with Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. Mr McClay will also stop in Singapore where he will undertake trade and investment promotion activities.
A trade agreement with India has been a long ambition for New Zealand. The signature of the NZ-India FTA is an occasion to celebrate.
Immediate fuel relief for school communities
As we navigate the global fuel crisis, our Government is ensuring that schools remain open and students stay engaged in their learning. We know that the rising cost of fuel is hitting some schools harder than others, particularly those that rely on diesel and where students face longer distances when travelling to and from school. That’s why we are investing $37 million to replace diesel boilers at 70 schools nationwide, increasing the mileage reimbursement rate for the relief teachers travelling to rural and isolated schools, and lifting the allowance that eligible families receive to help with the cost of driving their kids to school or the nearest bus route.
These measures are carefully targeted to where fuel costs are having the greatest impact and will help ensure kids stay in school.
Papamoa Hills is such a beautiful spot, so happy it’s reopened.
Signs are now in place to clearly show which areas of Pāpāmoa Hills are open and closed. A big thank you to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and everyone involved for their hard work to make this safe re-opening possible.
Track Details
The Pūraho Track (to/from far Poplar Lane carpark to the trig/summit), Karangaumu Track (via alternative track from main Poplar Lane carpark), and Summerhills Track (to/from Summerhill Recreation Farm carpark on Reid Road to trig/summit) are all open.
Please note that the Pāpāmoa Track, Te Ihu o Ruarangi Track, Te Hōuāwe Track, and Te Kaingapākura Track remain closed due to ongoing instability and damage.
Link to reel: Facebook
Good to hear Mauao will reopen, and that physical remediation work is starting in the coming weeks.
As I mentioned after visiting businesses last week at the base of Mount Maunganui with Jay from Mount Mainstreet, every operator, and in fact most members of our community, are looking for clarity and timeframes. Nobody expects Mauao to reopen tomorrow, but realistic timeframes and indications of next steps will be hugely helpful for local businesses and the wider community.
I'll keep asking those questions and keep everyone updated as progress is made. Looking forward to the community event at Club Mount Maunganui on 30 April.
Big news for Bay of Plenty: New Zealand is signing a Free Trade Agreement with India on April 27.
For our kiwifruit growers, this is huge. It opens up access to one of the world's biggest markets that we've never had before.
I want to say a huge thanks to Bruce, Fareena and the team at the Papamoa Food Hub for everything they do for our community.
The work they put in to make sure those doing it tough are looked after is incredible - we're lucky to have them.
We had an awesome night at the Battle of the Snack recently, the first event of the Flavours of Plenty Festival!
Hannah and I had a fantastic time watching local chefs and rising talent go head-to-head creating incredible canapés.
Huge congratulations to Paige Nicholls who won both the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards!
If you haven’t got your tickets yet for the rest of the festival (running until 3 May), I recommend jumping in. It’s a great local celebration of the Bay of Plenty’s incredible food scene.
Great to join the Bay of Plenty Parkinson’s Red Tulip Group for their annual awareness walk.
Because of the closures on the Mount, the group shifted the route to the Tay Street boardwalk, a great 4km return stroll along the waterfront. It was a really positive turnout and a good reminder of how important it is to raise awareness of Parkinson’s, which affects so many families in our community.
Huge thanks to everyone involved for organising the event and continuing to support those living with Parkinson’s.
I recently joined the Bangladesh Association of Bay of Plenty Inc.-BABOPI at their Eid Reunion celebration. I really enjoyed hearing their stories, watching their performances and seeing the strong sense of community they have built here in the Bay of Plenty.
Thank you to Joy and the whole BABOPI team for the kind invitation and for putting on such a great event.
It was really good to catch up with Jacqui Sawford again recently.
Jacqui has been bravely supporting her husband Kevin through young-onset frontotemporal dementia, and she recently dropped off a copy of her beautiful book of poems about their journey. If you would like to read it, then a copy is available in my Bay of Plenty Electorate office.
Jacqui, thank you for sharing something so personal, your courage and honesty are inspiring.
You can read more about Jacqui and Kevin’s story here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/.../X4SYVVEUCVDJZM4HQM4TISV2Q4/
80 Strong turnout for Super Blues
Thanks to our guest speaker Catherine Wedd MP for Tukituki
See you all next month!
Tauranga Homeshow, Friday 1 May - Sunday 3 May
I'll see you there!
Upcoming SuperBlues - 11 May
Welcome Bay, Drop in Clinics
Next dates confirmed:
- 22nd June
- 20th July
- 17th Aug
- 21st September
- 19th October
I'll see you there!
This Week in New Zealand History
New Zealand medics start work in South Vietnam
25 April 1963
New Zealand surgical team doctors in Qui Nhon (VietnamWar.govt.nz)
On Anzac Day 1963, a six-strong New Zealand civilian surgical team arrived in Qui Nhon, South Vietnam as part of the Colombo Plan assistance programme. Their deployment – two years before New Zealand combat troops were sent – marked the beginning of this country’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
The team based at Qui Nhon, in central Binh Dinh province, treated civilian war and accident casualties from the surrounding area, and trained Vietnamese medics and nurses in all aspects of modern hospital medicine, including maternity, paediatrics and public health promotion.
Dunedin surgeon Michael Shackleton – accompanied by his wife and five children – was the first team leader in Qui Nhon. Given the task of establishing a base for his staff, he performed admirably despite uncooperative local counterparts, inadequate facilities and limited New Zealand administrative support on the ground.
By 1966, the team had grown to 14: three surgeons, a physician, an anaesthetist, an administrator, a laboratory technician, six nurses and a maintenance officer. It continued to operate until March 1975, when it was evacuated to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) a few days before Qui Nhon fell to North Vietnamese forces. The last team member, Dr Jack Enwright, left South Vietnam in late April 1975.
In 1991, a coalition of 12 agencies, including Volunteer Service Abroad and the Red Cross, revived the relationship with Qui Nhon that had been forged by New Zealand medics and public health practitioners during the war. This collaboration continued until the government withdrew funding in 2002. Training continues to be sponsored by the New Zealand Viet Nam Health Trust, which was formed in 1997 after a reunion of New Zealanders who had taken part in the medical effort in Binh Dinh between 1963 and 1975.
The Week in Parliament - Briefly
Fast-tracked hydro to boost West Coast resilience
A fast-tracked renewable energy project on the West Coast will strengthen regional electricity supply and improve resilience, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say.
Legal verification of India FTA complete and date for signing agreed
Legal verification of the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been completed with both countries agreeing its signing on 27 April in New Delhi in front of a large contingent of Indian and New Zealand businesses, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says.
Board appointed to protect property rights
Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the appointment of the Regulatory Standards Board (the Board), established by the Regulatory Standard Act 2025 (the Act).
Immediate fuel relief for school communities
The Government is rolling out immediate targeted support to help small, rural and isolated schools manage fuel cost pressures, keep classrooms warm, and ensure students remain engaged in learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
One year on: AIP visa closes in on $4b committed to NZ
The Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa continues to deliver for New Zealanders and the economy with $1.49 billion already invested and a further $2.415 billion in the pipeline for a total of $3.905 billion after its first year.
Seventh Fast-track housing development approved
The Ashbourne project in Waikato, which will enable the development of 518 new homes and two solar farms, has been consented through Fast-track, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says
Independent oversight of infrastructure investment
The Government is improving how it selects infrastructure projects by making a series of changes to the Investment Management System, to ensure infrastructure meets New Zealanders’ needs, represents value for money, and can be successfully delivered, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Finance Minister Nicola Willis say.
New initiative for children to explore Anzac history
A new digital initiative for children to explore Anzac histories and stories from the battlefront to the homefront has launched, says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.
Boosting maths progress nationwide with proven pathway
The conclusion of the Government’s Year 7 and 8 maths acceleration trial has shown students made double the progress of their peers in 12 weeks and largely retained their learning months later, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
Moody’s highlights the need for balanced books
Moody’s decision to revise New Zealand’s Aaa outlook from stable to negative reinforces that the Government’s response to the current fuel crisis and its wider economic plan is the right one, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
Bonjour to investment in New Zealand
The Government has welcomed a new investment by French luxury fashion house Chanel in New Zealand’s premium agricultural sector.
Business AI use covered by new national survey
The launch of the Survey of Business Operations, a new national survey, will provide a comprehensive, up‑to‑date picture of how New Zealand businesses use Artificial Intelligence and respond to economic and technology changes, Minister of Statistics Scott Simpson says.
The 80s called, they want their views back
A new campaign called “The 80s Calling” was launched by Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey, with the aim of eliminating discrimination towards people living with HIV.
Attendance rates increase, again
Term 1 2026 school attendance data shows attendance rates were higher than any Term 1 since 2022, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says.
Skilled plumbers and drainlayers scheme expands
A self-certification scheme allowing skilled plumbers and drainlayers to sign off their own work is being expanded to cover more residential work and some commercial activity, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.
Online Casino Gambling Bill passes third reading
The Online Casino Gambling Bill has passed its third and final reading, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.
Bay of Plenty Electorate Office
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Thanks,
Tom.
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