Winter is here but the shortest day has passed so we’re enjoying slightly lighter evenings. I have three exciting events to invite you to:
- Afternoon tea with Hon Tama Potaka next Tuesday 7 July at 3pm; RSVP 6 July: Tauranga@national.org.nz or 07 5770923. $10 pp.
- Dinner with Hon Todd McClay on Friday 24 July, 6.30pm in Te Puna; $95pp. RSVP: Tauranga@national.org.nz
- A public meeting with Rt Hon Christopher Luxon on Friday 31 July. Midday at Tauranga Racing Club in the Sir Tristram Lounge. Free entry.
New Zealanders are seeing improvements across the health system, with progress now being made on all five Government health targets year on year. More people are being seen and treated sooner, elective waitlists are reducing, cancer treatment times are improving, and more children are fully immunised, reflecting a system focused on delivering faster care for patients.
I had the privilege of hosting Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey in Tauranga, where we saw firsthand the impact of local services like the BeingWell programme and marked the rollout of the new mental health co-response team. This team brings together Police and health professionals to respond to 111 calls, ensuring people in crisis receive the right support, with dozens of locals already helped in its first month.
A major milestone for Tauranga was being confirmed as a key training hub for the new University of Waikato Medical School from 2028. This is a huge opportunity for our city, allowing future doctors to train locally at Tauranga Hospital while strengthening our health workforce and encouraging more professionals to stay in our region.
Earlier this year I hosted Associate Housing Minister, Hon Tama Potaka, for a meeting Tauranga’s homelessness providers. I’m pleased to share that new Government funding is being delivered to support rough sleepers and tackle homelessness in Tauranga, with the city receiving targeted support as part of a $14.5 million regional package.
Details are being worked through to ensure these funds can improve outreach services into Tauranga, helping connect people experiencing homelessness with the wrap-around support they need. This builds on strong local advocacy and existing progress, with hundreds of households already moved into stable housing, and ensures frontline providers have the resources to continue this important work.
I was pleased attend the opening of new purpose-built housing in Greerton for autistic adults, delivering much-needed specialist homes tailored to individual needs. This project, supported by Housing Minister Chris Bishop and partnered between Horler Investments and Autism New Zealand, helps address a gap in housing supply while ensuring residents have homes that truly support their wellbeing and independence.
It was great to welcome Education Minister Erica Stanford to Tauranga to announce a $30 million investment through the Drinking Water in Schools Programme to upgrade water infrastructure. With dozens of water safety issues identified in schools across the country, this funding will help ensure students and staff have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water, while allowing upgrades to be delivered proactively rather than reactively.
Support for young people and education continues through Budget 2026, including the delivery of nearly 1,400 new classrooms over the past two and a half years, alongside further investment to meet growing demand. This is helping ensure students are learning in warm, modern environments while improving long-term planning and reducing build costs so more funding can go back into schools.
Schools are also benefiting from new investment in solar power, with panels being rolled out to up to 500 schools. This will help reduce operational costs, improve energy resilience, and allow schools to reinvest savings back into teaching and learning, while also contributing to lower emissions.
Budget 2026 is also expanding opportunities for young people by doubling Trades Academy places from 10,000 to 20,000 and investing in new vocational subjects. This gives more students practical, job-ready skills and clearer pathways into apprenticeships and employment, recognising there are multiple pathways to success.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Police Minister Mark Mitchell have announced the passage of the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill to crack down on illegal street racing, fleeing drivers, and disorderly vehicle gatherings. The new law introduces severe penalties including a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for fleeing drivers and street racers who endanger communities. Furthermore, the legislation increases the infringement fee for excessive vehicle noise from $50 to $300 and provides police with stronger tools to manage gatherings by closing roads, with most changes coming into effect in six months.
Significant progress is being made to strengthen New Zealand’s economy and support retirement savings, with plans to make KiwiSaver compulsory from 2028, automatically enrol newborns with a government contribution, and continue support for parents and older workers. These changes are designed to help more New Zealanders build long-term financial security and greater independence in retirement. I enjoy connecting with retirees in the Tauranga electorate on a regular basis and I especially valued the time I spent with members of the Bethlehem Country Club and residents at The Avenues Retirement Village, Arvida Bethlehem Views and Arvida Bethlehem Shores in June.
New initiatives are being introduced to help households manage power costs and improve energy resilience. A Home Energy Fund will support greater uptake of solar and energy-saving technology through low-interest loans, while planning changes will make it easier for people to install renewable energy solutions at home or on farms.
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced new electricity rules requiring large power companies to offer time-of-use pricing plans to households and small businesses. This initiative aims to make power bills more affordable by allowing consumers to shift their electricity usage to cheaper off-peak or night periods when demand is lower. Additionally, the changes support those with solar systems and batteries by providing higher returns when exporting power back into the grid during peak times, which complements the recent doubling of household export limits from 5kW to 10kW.
Strong support continues for rural communities and the primary sector, with food and fibre exports forecast to reach a record $64.3 billion, highlighting the strength of New Zealand’s farmers and growers even in challenging global conditions.
Further investment is being made to boost rural productivity, including $59 million through the Primary Sector Growth Fund to support innovative projects that improve land use, increase productivity, and deliver both economic and environmental benefits.
Budget 2026 also delivers a wide range of support for rural New Zealand, including investment in resilient transport infrastructure, regional hospital upgrades, stronger emergency management, increased funding for ambulance services, and support to reduce fuel cost pressures. These investments are focused on improving resilience and reducing pressures faced by rural communities.
It was great to be out supporting our primary sector as well, attending Fieldays and the Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year awards. These events highlight the strength of our horticulture industry and celebrate the next generation of growers who will continue driving success in the region. Congratulations, William Kenna, for being named Young Grower of the Year!
Additional support for conservation is being delivered by committing to double baseline funding for the QEII National Trust, helping farmers and landowners protect ecologically significant areas on private land. This builds on long-standing partnerships that protect native biodiversity while supporting working farms.
Changes are also being made to the Conservation Amendment Bill following consultation, including removing provisions relating to the disposal or exchange of conservation land and strengthening the focus on long-term environmental outcomes.
Local environmental investment is also supporting Tauranga, with funding through the Waste Minimisation Fund for projects that divert construction waste from landfill and support more sustainable practices. Supporting local jobs and businesses remains a strong focus, including environmental investment such as funding for projects that reduce waste and keep more materials out of landfill. Initiatives like this help support innovation, sustainability, and local economic growth here in Tauranga.
On the economy more broadly, growth remains a focus, with policies aimed at supporting jobs, lifting wages, and managing cost of living pressures while continuing to invest in essential services and infrastructure.
I’ll continue working closely with Ministers, community organisations, and local stakeholders to ensure Tauranga gets its fair share of investment and support, while delivering practical solutions to the issues that matter most to our community.
June was a busy month out in the community, including time spent door knocking across Tauranga and meeting residents face-to-face. Hearing directly from locals about the issues that matter most continues to be one of the most important parts of the job and helps shape the work I take to Wellington.
Supporting local businesses and jobs has remained a strong focus, including visits to Acon Industries and AR Plus in Tauriko. These locally grown businesses are doing impressive work in sustainability, construction, and health and safety, while also creating pathways for young people into employment and strengthening our regional economy.
I also visited Ignite Architects in Tauranga, a team behind a number of major local developments, and enjoyed seeing the innovative work being delivered both here and across the country.
It was an honour to attend the RSA Combined Services Day in Mount Maunganui to recognise those who have served our country.
I’ve continued to advocate on key local issues, including pushing for progress on the Port of Tauranga berth extensions and raising concerns about the Marine Precinct deal to ensure accountability and value for money. These are critical issues for the future growth of our city and economy.
It was a proud moment to recognise outstanding members of our community, including those honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours List for their contributions to Tauranga, and to mark four years serving as the MP for this incredible city. Congratulations to Tauranga constituents Dr Mark Fraundorfer and Kathy Webb, who have been formally recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List for their extraordinary decades of service to the Tauranga community.
Dr Fraundorfer has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his pioneering work in health and urological care.
Kathy Webb has been awarded the King’s Service Medal (KSM) for her immense contributions to our local social sector and community development. Kathy co-founded SociaLink in 2012, an invaluable organisation that provides vital training, advocacy, and support for the city's community groups.
The team from Shakti came to say hi and highlight the services they provide for vulnerable ethnic women. Shasha, Theo, Njeh, and Dipika shared the work being done by Shakti, an organization dedicated to supporting women surviving physical and mental abuse. For nearly 25 years, this nationwide service has provided culturally sensitive support tailored specifically for women in Asian, African, and Middle Eastern communities. With a dedicated safe house here in Tauranga, the Shakti team collaborates closely with Immigration, MSD and others. If you, or someone you know, needs help, please reach out to Shakti.
I’ve continued supporting a wide range of community initiatives and local organisations, from promoting blood and plasma donation through the New Zealand Blood Service to celebrating local businesses, community facilities, and everything that makes Tauranga such a great place to live.
There's a amazing education centre in the Beehive, complete with a mock Parliament and Speaker's Chair. If you've ever wondered what it's like in the Prime Minister's office, this is a photo of it. The Prime Minister has his own lift, and this isn't it. The Beehive Theatrette is where Ministerial Press Conferences are held. Some Opposition MPs fondly remember when it was Labour's "Podium of Truth" during the pandemic. You may recall it differently.
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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