It was great to host Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Tauranga last Friday, where he attended a meeting with over 500 people from across Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. We took him to visit a couple of outstanding local companies, Beca and SYOS Aerospace. It’s always a highlight to meet with local business owners and it was a pleasure to introduce the Prime Minister to the hard-working people helping to drive our economy.
Tauranga readers will have received their Winter Newsletters over the last week. If you’re reading this out of the electorate you can read it on line here.
Electorate Newsletter: Winter 2026
There’s been lots of updates from Wellington, with Government announcements in areas that matter to us all. Please read on for national and local news.
We are continuing to deliver targeted support for local families and hard working New Zealanders. A re-elected National Government will gradually extend paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks by 2029, giving parents more time and flexibility to care for their newborns. That support is already making a real difference today, with over 97,500 families now receiving FamilyBoost payments to help ease the cost of early childhood education.
Infrastructure progress continues across the Bay, with the opening of the new SH29 and Takitimu Drive flyover marking another important milestone for our growing city. Major projects including Takitimu North Link, Tauriko West, the Omanawa Bridge and the Tauranga Hospital redevelopment will help support Tauranga's future growth and improve transport connections throughout the region.
Alongside local infrastructure investments, we are getting on with building the vital infrastructure our region and country need to thrive. The signing of the public private partnership for the Warkworth to Te Hana expressway marks a major milestone in delivering the Northland Expressway.
We have launched our new National KiwiSaver calculator to help you see exactly how our policies will boost your retirement savings and set your family up for long term financial security. You can explore National's KiwiSaver Calculator online now to discover how much better off you would be under a re-elected National Government, which will make KiwiSaver compulsory from 2028, automatically enrol newborn babies with a $1500 Baby Boost payment, maintain government contributions during paid parental leave, and require employers to keep matching contributions for workers aged over 65.
The Government has passed the Employment Leave Bill, replacing the Holidays Act with a simpler and more straightforward leave system.
Previously a part-time worker just got 10 days of sick leave – we’re changing this. The reforms introduce an hours-based accrual system for annual and sick leave, a single hourly rate for paying leave, more transparent pay statements, and greater flexibility for employees wishing to cash up a portion of their annual leave. The new system aims to provide certainty for both workers and employers, ensuring leave is calculated accurately and consistently.
Businesses and payroll providers will have two years to transition to the new system before it comes into force.
New Zealand's new Arms Act has passed its final reading in Parliament, bringing significant changes designed to improve public safety while making compliance easier for licensed firearms owners.
The legislation establishes a new independent firearms regulator, separates firearms licensing from Police operations, increases penalties for illegal firearms activity, and creates additional safeguards to prevent firearms from reaching criminals.
The Government says the reforms will improve public safety, modernise firearms regulation and provide greater certainty for responsible firearms owners.
Updated national dog control guidelines have been released to help councils improve public safety while the Government reviews wider dog control laws.
The guidance provides councils with practical tools to respond to dangerous dogs, promote responsible ownership and improve the consistency of dog control data collection across the country.
The review comes as ACC records show more than 14,000 claims relating to dog bites and attacks in the past year.
More than 10,000 frontline workers have now been trained in family violence and sexual violence prevention, reaching the Government's target almost six months ahead of schedule.
The training has been delivered across agencies including Police, Oranga Tamariki, Corrections, ACC and the Ministry of Justice. The aim is to ensure frontline staff have the skills needed to recognise, respond to and refer people experiencing family or sexual violence.
The achievement forms part of the Government's Action Plan to improve support for victim-survivors.
The Government is beginning the process of acquiring long-range strike drones for the New Zealand Defence Force as part of broader defence modernisation plans.
The human-operated systems are intended to provide a lower-cost capability alongside existing defence assets, while supporting local innovation and industry development where possible.
The Government has also announced plans to begin research into unarmed long-range drones for maritime surveillance, with New Zealand businesses encouraged to contribute to the programme.
New Zealand is also expanding its international economic connections through strategic trade engagement. A new Trade and Investment Dialogue with Switzerland will support discussions on commerce, economic security, e-commerce and sustainability. At the same time, Auckland has hosted trade ministers and delegates from 21 economies, while exporters continue to see strong growth in markets such as India, particularly in the horticulture sector.
Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill A tougher approach to dangerous driving is now law, with Parliament passing the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill. The new legislation targets illegal street racing, burnouts, fleeing drivers, intimidating convoys and other antisocial road use, giving Police stronger powers to intervene and increasing penalties for offenders. Convicted street racers and fleeing drivers can now face the destruction or forfeiture of their vehicles, while fines for excessive vehicle noise will increase from $50 to $300. The Government says the changes are designed to improve community safety, restore public confidence, and ensure those who use roads to intimidate or endanger others face meaningful consequences.
The Government is investing $3 million through the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support the Gas to Geoheat Tauranga Geothermal System Project, an early-stage exploration initiative in partnership with local landowners.
The project will drill two test wells in the Mount Maunganui industrial area and the Te Puke/Rangiuru area to better understand the region’s geothermal resources. Led by GeoExchange NZ and local landowners, the project will generate publicly available data to support future renewable energy opportunities, strengthen regional energy security, and explore innovative options such as shared geothermal heating networks for businesses and communities. The project is expected to create 15 to 20 jobs during delivery.
The Government has also strengthened New Zealand's energy security through the activation of a strategic diesel reserve at the refurbished Marsden Point facility. Managed in partnership with Z Energy, the reserve stores 90 million litres of diesel and provides a safeguard against global supply disruptions, helping ensure transport operators, primary industries and essential services can continue operating when needed.
The Government is making it easier and faster for New Zealanders to install solar panels, following a comprehensive review of solar regulations. The review found that getting solar installed can involve months of delays, multiple inspections and unnecessary costs.
Proposals include legalising plug-in solar systems, streamlining approval processes, reducing inspection requirements for accredited installers, and simplifying rules around building and resource consents. The changes could reduce approval times for residential solar installations from around three months to just six days, while significantly reducing costs for households and businesses.
The reforms will help Kiwi families access more affordable and reliable energy while supporting greater uptake of renewable electricity.
A strong economy enables continued investment in essential public services. More than $10 million is being invested in telehealth providers including Lifeline, Youthline and Whakarongorau to improve access to mental health and addiction support services. The funding will help expand capacity, strengthen infrastructure and reduce wait times so New Zealanders can receive timely assistance regardless of where they live.
Supporting personal wellbeing is also a priority, with the launch of a new online Women's Health Hub. The platform brings together trusted health information, practical resources and guidance tailored to different stages of life. By covering a range of wellness, clinical and preventative health topics, the hub aims to improve health literacy and help women make informed decisions about their healthcare and wellbeing.
I visited Ōtūmoetai Doctors to meet with practitioners in the BeingWell service, is a highly successful mental health and addiction programme run by the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation. Operating from within general practices, the free service provides patients with locally-coordinated care from a dedicated team of health coaches and health improvement practitioners. If you’re experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, chronic pain, lifestyle changes, or just feeling stuck, book an appointment for this free service via your GP Practice or the Western Bay PHO website: http://www.wboppho.org.nz.
New provisional figures show school attendance is at its highest level for a Term 2 since 2016, with 64.2% of students attending regularly in Term 2 2026, up from 58.4% a year earlier. The Bay of Plenty recorded the largest regional improvement in the country, rising eight percentage points to 60.5%. The Government says measures including school attendance management plans, strengthened attendance services, and additional Budget 2025 funding are helping more students stay engaged in learning. Regular school attendance is strongly linked to better educational outcomes, employment opportunities and community participation.
July was another busy month across the electorate. It was a pleasure to spend time meeting residents at community events, seniors' gatherings and my regular drop-in clinics, hearing directly about the issues that matter most to local people.
I enjoyed visiting a number of innovative Tauranga businesses, including Oasis Engineering, SIPPro and Pure Print, all of which are contributing to local jobs, investment and economic growth. It's always encouraging to see the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that exists across our region.
It was great to catch up with Adam, a Tauranga teacher, musician, and the creator of The Beat Station, a classroom music programme currently being used by schools throughout New Zealand. They are giving teachers the confidence, structure, and resources to use musical instruments consistently in a busy classroom environment. I recommend all schools check this out and teach kids the magic of music.
I also had the opportunity to host Hon Tama Potaka in Tauranga, welcome residents to community events and spend time with local organisations making a difference in people's lives.
Congratulations as well to Greerton Marist on their Baywide Premier Men's Rugby Final victory, ending a 53-year drought in a tremendous achievement for the club and wider community.
I have also continued advocating for Tauranga on several local issues, including seeking greater scrutiny of decisions affecting Quayside Holdings and calling for clear timelines around restoring public access to Mount Maunganui - Mauao - when it is safe to do so. The issue of TCC’s sale of the Marina Precinct continues, with many questions still to be answered. You can watch my interview on the subject here.
With August our last month of winter, it’s encouraging to see our days lengthening as we near the warmer, sunny days Tauranga is known for.
I look forward to seeing you out and about over the coming weeks.
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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