It was a privilege to sit in Parliament for Hon Nicola Willis’ third budget. I am proud to be part of the National-led Government that is fixing the basics and building the future. Through fiscal responsibility and sensible choices, we have brought our forecast surplus forward into the 2028/29 financial year, prioritizing economic growth alongside essential community support.
Budget 2026 delivers significant investment into healthcare, education, infrastructure and frontline services we need.
We will create 220,000 more jobs over the next four years. Wages will grow higher than inflation. Economic growth is set to be around 2.7% over this period – higher than Australia, the UK, the EU, Canada and Japan.
A fantastic win for our region is the announcement of the redevelopment of Tauranga Hospital. Budget 2026 provided the necessary investment to fund the critical early phases of the project, including detailed design, site planning, and enabling works. The redevelopment supports shorter wait times, faster treatment, and modern care closer to home.
We’re also boosting ambulance services to deliver faster and more reliable emergency care, with more frontline crews and 111 call handlers supported alongside a strong focus on recruitment and retention, particularly in high‑need areas. Investment in new infrastructure and technology, including ambulance hubs and electronic patient records, will support more modern care, while an enhanced clinical hub will help more patients get the right care sooner and reduce pressure on emergency departments.
We marked Pink Ribbon Day to remind us all that early detection saves lives. Since free breast screening was extended to women aged 70 and 74 last year, more than 16,440 women have already been screened, with 190 cancers detected early.
Each October over the next three years, eligibility will expand further to include women aged 71, 72, and 73. Tell a friend, check in with your loved ones, and book a screening today.
We’re also lowering access to free bowel cancer screening to 56 years old, down from 60 when we came into government. More than 200,000 additional New Zealanders will gain access to life-saving bowel cancer screening as the age of eligibility for free bowel screening is lowered further.
Transport infrastructure is another major focus. The $1.77 billion extension of the Waikato Expressway from Cambridge to Piarere will deliver a new four-lane connection linking SH1 to SH29. This strengthens the critical route into Tauranga, improving freight flows to the Port of Tauranga, reducing congestion, and supporting the Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty golden triangle.
The Budget provides targeted support for those most in need, including $45 million for community food providers, $22.4 million to reduce emergency housing reliance, and up to 2,250 additional social homes. This is the direction we need to take social housing - the right sort of houses in the right place for the right people.
We’re delivering the next phase of our Teaching the Basics Brilliantly programme, with more support for students, teachers, and families. This is how you change a generation!
Schools will receive practical classroom resources like hands-on maths games and tools, writing workbooks, and digital learning support.
This investment will contribute directly to our target of seeing 80% of Year 8 students at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in Reading, Writing and Maths by December 2030.
I have been listening to Tauranga constituents about homeschooling. The Government has heard your feedback, and we have agreed to pause all work on these regulation changes. We want to take the time to get this right. We know the vast majority of homeschooling parents do a fantastic job and we support choice in our education system.
For too long Wellington has built public service empires. That time is coming to an end. Big bureaucracy and red tape is not good for a country. We need to redirect resources from the back office to the front line. Wellington can be much more than just a public service hub and actually has many innovative companies, and it can have more! We want to deliver better outcomes for Kiwis and we can get closer to this goal by reducing bureaucratic duplication across multiple departments.
I enjoyed meeting RBNZ Governor Dr Anna Breman as she spoke with the Finance and Expenditure Committee at Parliament. It’s really important that government makes disciplined spending decisions. Undisciplined spending leads to economic pain, high inflation and higher interest rate rates - long term pain for Kiwi families and households.
The Government is strengthening New Zealand’s fuel resilience through a $150 million investment in strategic fuel reserves, while allocating additional funding to key services like Police, Fire and Emergency, Corrections, and Education to ensure operations continue despite higher fuel prices. With uncertainty in the Middle East continuing to put pressure on global markets, a $450 million contingency has also been set aside to enable further support if conditions worsen, reflecting a balanced approach that helps those most affected while maintaining fiscal discipline. Fuel supply is currently secure, with added reserves and industry coordination in place. While restrictions are highly unlikely, the plan outlines clear steps to protect critical services, keep freight moving, and support the economy if needed.
It was a great pleasure to join my Ministerial colleagues Chris Bishop and Simon Watts, as well as Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford at the signing of the Western Bay of Plenty City and Regional Deal. The CRD is a transformational agreement that sets out how central and local government will work together over the next decade to unlock major infrastructure investment, support growth and deliver the transport, housing and social services our region needs.
It will enable around 15,000 new homes, prioritise critical transport links like SH29 and SH2, and drive coordinated investment in key infrastructure such as Tauranga Hospital, schools and health facilities, recognising the Western Bay of Plenty as one of New Zealand’s most important economic regions and a vital gateway for national growth.
Chris Bishop and Simon Watts confirmed that we’re forging ahead with Local Government reform. Regional council layers will disappear by 2028, and local councils will be given a fast-track chance to reorganise themselves in the next three months to take on those regional council functions.
I’ll be encouraging all the councils in our region to take the opportunity for more localised control of regional functions. Shared services, reduced overheads and fewer layers are all potential benefits from these changes.
Please let me know your thoughts - what should local government look like in our community in 2028?
It's always a pleasure to drop by Zespri's headquarters, and recently I was there with the Minister of Climate Change, Simon Watts,, during his Tauranga visit. At Zespri HQ we discussed the innovative sustainability measures Zespri currently has in place and the work they are doing to develop future-proof solutions for the industry. This is crucial to ensure Zespri is not only the healthiest fruit brand in the world, but also to meet consumer preferences for sustainable supply chains.
As well as visiting Zespri, we also enjoyed a tour of MPac, with colleague Chris Bishop. Kiwifruit packhouses have some really impressive technology helping to streamline the storage, packing and shipping process.
Minister Cameron Brewer also visited Tauranga to announce the Government’s strengthening intellectual property settings in the Plant Variety Rights Act. We know the importance of supporting high value horticulture, to protect long-term investment and help New Zealand compete internationally. These changes recognise the importance of new plant varieties in driving export growth, with kiwifruit and apple sectors already heavily reliant on protected varieties to deliver strong returns, support regional jobs and meet global demand.
I got along to the Harvest Market in Te Puna, with scarecrow, pumpkin and animal competitions, arts and crafts, great food and lovely people! A 90.4kg pumpkin, seriously, well done Pat! Thank you Sue for all your hard work making this happen for Te Puna!
Development contributions in Tauranga are set to increase by around $30,000 over the next five years for a typical three-bedroom home, taking total charges to more than $40,000 and well above neighbouring Western Bay. This adds pressure to house prices and makes affordability a real challenge for local families.
The Government is addressing this through development levies to improve consistency and reduce costs across the country. There is also a clear need for Tauranga City Council to get its spending under control, as rising costs ultimately fall on ratepayers.
Looking ahead, broader local government reforms and planning changes will help support more affordable housing. Alongside reforms to the RMA, faster consenting, reduced red tape and lower building costs, these changes are focused on delivering better housing outcomes for Tauranga and across New Zealand.
Building houses in Tauranga is harder and more expensive than it should be. Not enough land, comparatively expensive development contributions, red tape, prohibitive planning laws, inadequate procurement processes to name a few.
I hosted local builders to hear their issues, along with Hon Chris Bishop at Neck of the Woods with my good mate Tom Rutherford MP for Bay of Plenty. We invited Tauranga house builders to meet the Minister for Housing for a chat about what is impacting builders here in Tauranga. We heard the issues they face so we can fix them and we reinforced our commitment to ensuring that Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty remain one of New Zealand's most vibrant and dynamic regions.
I met with ICONZ Edge at Merivale School in Tauranga. The programme uses hands-on activities, primarily woodworking, to engage boys who are on the edge and struggling in school; helping shift how they feel about learning, and themselves. Well done Stu, Sam and the team for all your awesome mahi.
I joined Doug at Brookfield to raise money for The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory. Thank you everyone for stopping to chat and donating to this wonderful cause. Since 1883, The Salvation Army has fought poverty and social and spiritual distress in New Zealand. They give help to more than 150,000 people in need each year with budgeting advice, food and clothing assistance, life skills programmes and other comfort and support.
It was a real pleasure to join Chris Duggan, her family and friends and many contributors to the success of Tauranga’s House of Science NZ. They are delivering their amazing science kits into all year 0-8 state and state-integrated schools. This is going to move the dial and enable a generation of Kiwi kids the opportunity to explore and excel in STEM subjects. The government is investing $39.9 million into this over four years. The social impact is an incredible $21.90 for every $1 invested. That is unprecedented. I had the honour of introducing then Education Spokesperson Erica Stanford to House of Science before the 2023 election. I loved her enthusiasm and it turns out she loves House of Science. Well done, Chris, for your inspiration and all the volunteers, funders and everyone else that makes this dream come true – you are going to change a generation!
The Wairoa Bridge bike lane between Tauranga and Te Puna has been shut for too long. Cyclists have been advised not to cycle over the Wairoa River by NZTA. The Transport Agency has approved funding to fix the slip and repair the cycleway, with investigation complete and options under review. Next steps are final design and appointing a contractor to start work. This is inconvenient for bicycle commuters and tourists so we will keep the pressure on till the access is reinstated. My message is simple – hurry up and find an interim solution for commuters.
Recently the Glenbrook Vintage Railway put on train rides for Tauranga residents, including a from the Strand to Mount Maunganui and another through the Kaimai Tunnel. Such a popular activity that booked up soon after tickets went on sale. It’s brought up the topic of local commuter trains and since we have the lines, we have the possibility of local train travel – business case and fiscals pending. Let me know your thoughts and if they’re positive I’ll work to build local consensus and put this before key people in Wellington.
I caught up with Stuart Dickson from Powerco to discuss connection delays impacting Tauranga businesses. I was clear that the people of Tauranga need faster connections and they committed to delivering this. We will hold them to account. If you are experiencing delays, call Powerco at 0800 769 372 or contact our office for help with escalation.
I was proud to attend Maya’s swearing in ceremony at Tauranga District Court. Maya works in my Tauranga Electorate Office and has added another skill to her impressive range by becoming a Justice of the Peace. The role of a JP is grounded in service, integrity and supporting our community, providing administrative legal processes to everyone, for no cost. This is a well-deserved and earned achievement and Tauranga constituents will be able to have their documents verified from Mondays to Thursdays during work hours.
I was at the Tauranga Home Show at Baypark, along with thousands of other people. It was great to catch up with National Party members, friends and fellow exhibitors. I also visited a few of the other stands - It’s a positive sign for our economy when you hear business owners reporting busy stands and lots of invoices getting issued over the weekend. A highlight of the Tauranga Home Show today was meeting Jason and Debbie, owners of Kiwi Fresh Meats in Gate Pa. Absolutely delicious and critically acclaimed! Highly recommend you give them a try!
The Arvida Group celebrated the opening of its new apartments and care centre at the beautiful Bethlehem Shores. This adds about 50 new homes to Tauranga’s housing stock and a 55 room care centre, helping to keep people out of Tauranga Hospital and give people continuity of care in one place. Well done Jeremy, Brian and the wonderful healthcare and support workers for making this happen.