Here is my First Reading speech in Parliament on my Members’ Bill – the Concealment of Location of Victim Remains Bill (No Body, No Parole).
No family should have to live with the unbearable pain of never knowing where their loved one is buried, simply because the killer refuses to say. This bill puts victims and their families first.
Link to my first reading here: Facebook
The Spinoff
I recently sat down with The Spinoff for their One MP, One Pint series. Bit of a fun interview for your reading pleasure.
Anyone who is convicted of sexual offending is not of good character.
National will continue to ensure there are real consequences for crime by abolishing good character assessments at sentencing for all sexual offending.
Link to reel: Facebook
New Zealand's qualification system is getting a complete overhaul.
Out goes NCEA — with 1000s of different standards, where students can avoid exams and grading that is hard to interpret.
In comes the New Zealand Certificate of Education: students must study at least five subjects a year, with exams in every subject, and clear grades from A+ to E.
Rigorous. Credible. Internationally benchmarked.
Too often students have been able to gain piecemeal credits without developing the skills they need to succeed beyond school. We’re fixing it.
National is delivering the biggest education overhaul in a generation — to set our kids up for the brightest possible future.
New Zealanders expect public services that are fast and effective. But too often they’re not because the public service hasn’t kept up with the times. We have excellent public servants, but they’re being let down by a system that sometimes looks more like 1986 than 2026. Outdated technology, waste, duplication and a complex web of 39 departments. The result is a public service that is too big, too expensive and too slow. We've already shifted money from the back office to the frontline and seen better results like more elective surgeries and improvements in school achievement.
But there’s more to do. So, we're doubling down on digitalisation and AI, and streamlining the number of government departments. By doing that, we expect to save another $2.4 billion which we can reinvest into frontline services.
It’s about better results, without breaking the bank.
It’s Youth Week and to mark it, I was part of a panel at Parliament on Monday night around this year’s theme, ‘Our Voices Matter, We Deserve to be Heard’.
Really good mix of young people, youth workers and MPs in the room, all talking about what young New Zealanders bring to this country.
The Western Bay of Plenty Deal has officially been signed - a long-term partnership between local councils and Government to unlock growth across housing, transport, infrastructure and exports.
This means better planning for our fast-growing region, more homes, improved transport links, and investment to support the future of the Western Bay.
It was great to join Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Cameron Brewer MP recently to announce that the Government is strengthening plant variety rights to better protect the innovation and long-term investment of our horticulture sector.
This includes extending protection by five years and giving breeders immediate legal protection from the day they apply.
For SunGold kiwifruit alone, this change is projected to deliver an extra $1.8 billion in revenue over five years.
These practical improvements will encourage more new varieties, boost high-value exports, support jobs and help our world-class growers stay competitive
I spent a morning recently with 200 awesome students from Mount Maunganui Primary School talking about the power of language and the role it plays in shaping beliefs, influencing decisions, and creating change in our communities. Really inspiring to see young people already thinking about solutions to local challenges and how they can make a difference.
Thanks for having me along and for all the thoughtful questions and conversations throughout the morning.
Really positive to see more investment going into helping our young people build strong foundations in the classroom. From structured maths resources and writing workbooks to better support for teachers and digital learning tools, this is all about making sure Kiwi kids have the confidence and skills they need to succeed.
We’re already seeing encouraging progress in literacy and numeracy, and that’s after less than a year of these changes being rolled out.
Getting the basics right early opens the door to more opportunities later on - and that matters for every family.
Fast-track approval has been granted for the continued operation of the Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme in the Bay of Plenty - the 23rd project approved. This long-standing scheme helps power around 24,600 homes and makes up about a third of Tauranga’s electricity demand.
Keeping reliable renewable generation online is key to supporting growth and regional resilience. Projects like this also help avoid around 26,000 tonnes of emissions each year.
Fast-track is helping important infrastructure like this continue to operate.
Great to visit the team at Habit Health Bayfair. They do excellent work — in particular helping young people aged 18–24 into sustainable jobs through their Community Job Coaching contract with Work and Income.
Getting our young people into employment makes a big difference for them and for our community.
Exactly 3 years ago this week, I became the National Party candidate for Bay of Plenty. It’s gone fast. I’ve got to know my local community even better, worked on things that matter to people living and working here, and had the chance to make a difference locally.
Still a lot of work ahead, and I’m looking forward to it.
Upcoming Events
SuperBlues - 8 June
Welcome Bay, Drop in Clinics
Next dates confirmed:
- 22nd June
- 20th July
- 17th Aug
- 21st September
- 19th October
Firefighter Fundraiser
To buy tickets: https://app.galabid.com/papfire/event-tickets
This Week in New Zealand History
Coronation of first Māori Queen
23 May 1966
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu (Tūrongo House, Ngāruawāhia)
Princess Piki, the daughter of King Korokī, was chosen as the first Māori Queen during her father’s tangi, in accordance with Kīngitanga protocol. She assumed her mother’s name, Te Atairangikaahu.
She was the sixth Māori monarch and the longest serving. She died in August 2006, shortly after celebrating her 40th jubilee as Queen.
The Kīngitanga survived the wars of the 19th century and remains an important and enduring expression of Māori unity. Its place in New Zealand society was demonstrated by the widespread outpouring of grief when Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu died.
The Week in Parliament - Briefly
Ensuring Treaty references are consistent
The Government has agreed to amend 19 pieces of legislation to ensure references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi are clear and consistent, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
Healthy School Lunch Programme saves more money
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced that the Government will continue delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme (the Programme) in 2027, saving taxpayers another $122 million.
Students should be in school, not on strike
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says students going on strike would make a bigger difference by showing up to school, working hard, and taking every opportunity to learn.
$100m+ Wellington Airport project Fast-tracked
Fast-track approval has been granted to a significant Wellington infrastructure project which will safeguard the International Airport’s long-term operations, protect critical assets, create two kororā (little penguin) colonies, and generate hundreds of jobs.
Fourth renewable energy project fast-tracked
The continued operation of the Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme in the Bay of Plenty has been granted Fast-track approval, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced.
Growers benefit as Govt strengthens plant rights
The Government is strengthening plant variety rights (PVR) to protect investments underpinning high‑value exports, regional jobs and global demand for New Zealand produce, Trade and Investment and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer say.
Statutory guidance issued to help protect Kiwis’ rights
The Minister for Regulation and the Attorney‑General have issued joint statutory guidance to support consistent application of the Regulatory Standards Act 2025 (the Act) across government.
Details of NCEA replacement confirmed
New Zealand’s new senior secondary qualifications will provide clearer, more credible recognition of student achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
Literacy and maths at forefront of new investment
Raising achievement and lifting student performance in reading, writing and maths is at the centre of Budget 2026 investment in education, says Education Minister Erica Stanford.
New homes delivered for Defence families
Modern, high-quality new homes have been delivered for military families ahead of schedule and under budget, Defence Minister Chris Penk says.
Bill to strengthen disability support
The Government has introduced the Disability Support Services Bill to Parliament, providing clarity and stability to the system which supports thousands of disabled New Zealanders.
Southland farmers to benefit under improved farm plan system
The Government is extending the timeframe for Southland farmers to submit freshwater farm plans to ensure they can benefit from the updated national system to be adopted later this year, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Nicola Grigg, and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.
Dairy Industry Restructuring Act statutory review begins
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has published the terms of reference for a statutorily required review on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA), Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.
New Chair for Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has announced that a new Chair has been appointed to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board [the Board].
Kelvin Davis appointed to Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group
Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced the appointment of Kelvin Davis as a member of the Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group.
First‑ever picture of New Zealand’s regulatory landscape revealed
For the first time, the full scale and structure of New Zealand’s regulatory landscape has been mapped, exposing decades of overlap and complexity, Regulation Minister David Seymour says.
Regulatory changes to help Kiwis during fuel uncertainty
Removal of regulatory barriers that make it harder for businesses and communities to cope with global fuel shocks has begun Minister for Regulation David Seymour and Minister for Transport Chris Bishop say.
Auckland hornet eradication enters new phase
Biosecurity New Zealand’s yellow-legged hornet eradication in Auckland remains on track, with growing confidence the pest can be wiped out, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
Defence supports efforts to train Ukrainian military
The New Zealand Defence Force has joined a new multi-national initiative led by Norway to train Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel in Poland, Defence Minister Chris Penk says
Delivering fairer social housing
The Government is launching a multi-year reform of New Zealand’s social housing system to make support fairer, better targeted, and more focused on encouraging independence, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Social Development Minister Louise Upston say.
Pharmac proposal to strengthen New Zealand’s vaccine response
Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s proposal to strengthen New Zealand’s vaccine response, including by funding the flu vaccine for children aged 6 months up to 5 years old.
Family Violence and Sexual Violence Advisory Group Announced
A new advisory group has been created to bring lived experience and frontline leadership knowledge to the government’s decision-making and strategic direction around preventing family violence and sexual violence.
Move-on orders pass first reading
Legislation which provides Police with the power to issue move-on orders as a tool to deal with disorderly behaviour in public places has passed first reading in Parliament, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
Boosting ambulance services across New Zealand
More ambulance crews, upgraded technology, and stronger frontline support will strengthen ambulance services across New Zealand, enabling quick and effective responses to emergencies, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello say.
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Thanks,
Tom.
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