It has been another busy week out and about in our community. Parliament has been in recess, so I have been on the ground across the Bay of Plenty rather than in Wellington.
AIMS Games has also been on this week, and it has been great to see the city so full. Thousands of young people, families and supporters have come into Tauranga, which is a real boost for our local businesses, hospitality and tourism.
Supporting First‑Home Buyers
National announced plans to widen access to 5% home deposits under the First Home Loan scheme by raising the income cap to $300,000. This change aims to help more young New Zealanders into home ownership at a time when affordability remains a significant challenge.
Under the National-led Government, first home buyers are dominating the housing market. In July this year, first home buyers made up 29% of all purchases – the highest in more than 20 years. But getting a 20% deposit for a first home is still a major constraint on home ownership for many Kiwis.
The Government’s First Home loan scheme makes it easier to get into your first home by only requiring a 5% deposit, instead of the standard 20%. However, the income cap to qualify is currently $95,000 for single buyers without dependants and $150,000 for multiple buyers or single buyers with dependants. National will remove the single buyers cap and lift the income cap to $300,000 for all buyers.
National wants more Kiwis to own their own home because that provides stability and greater financial security. Our Backing First Home Buyers policy supports that vision, alongside a suite of other policies to help Kiwis get ahead including introducing no new taxes, boosting KiwiSaver, extending paid parental leave, implementing a rates cap and lowering student loan repayments.
Resetting the International Visitor Levy
National will reset how the International Visitor Levy is spent, so councils hosting international visitors get a direct return — without introducing a bed tax. Our changes will mean $100 million a year for conservation, $50 million a year for tourism growth and all remaining IVL revenue, starting at $86 million in 2027/28 and rising to $106 million in 2030/31, will go directly to councils based on the share of international visitor guest nights they host.
This delivers councils a large and growing share of the revenue from the IVL, funded by international visitors rather than by a new tax on New Zealanders.
A bed tax would hit Kiwis booking a weekend away in their own country, whether that’s for a funeral, a sports event or simply a holiday with the kids. Domestic travellers make up two-thirds of all guest nights in New Zealand, so this tax would fall mainly on Kiwis, not on international tourists.
Funding starts flowing from 1 July 2027, around two years earlier than a bed tax would. We’re also providing certainty to the sector by committing not to increase the IVL for at least three years.
National is committing to no new taxes, while Labour is proposing a Bed Tax alongside at least nine other taxes being proposed by them and their coalition partners.
Major international education results
Major international education results out this week show New Zealand has stopped the decline in maths, reading and science, with science improving.
Even more significantly, the biggest gains were among our lowest-performing students, meaning the gap between our highest and lowest performers is closing for the first time in years.
We’ve turned things around, first in primary and now in secondary results. We got kids back to school. Regular attendance has increased from 39% in 2022 to 64% in 2026. We put achievement back at the heart of education, with a relentless focus on the basics.
International results show the decline in maths, reading and science has stopped, with science improving. The biggest gains were among the lowest-performing quarter of students: around one year of progress in science, three terms in maths and six months in reading.
That means, for the first time in years, the gap between our highest and lowest performers is closing. There’s more work to do, and this progress is at risk if Labour unwinds the changes that are getting results.
Visiting Tarpaulin Makers: Local Innovation in Flood Resilience
This week I visited Beni, Vanessa and the team at Tarpaulin Makers in Mount Maunganui to see their innovative ARK Flood Barriers in action. ARK Flood Barriers are a New Zealand‑made alternative to traditional sandbags, designed to help communities, councils and emergency responders prepare for flood events more quickly and efficiently.
It was great to see local manufacturing and innovation on display right here in the Bay of Plenty. The team are doing phenomenal work, and I really enjoyed meeting them and seeing the ARK Flood Barriers for myself. Businesses like Tarpaulin Makers are a strong example of Kiwi ingenuity, developing practical solutions that help protect communities while creating opportunities and jobs locally.
Meet the candidate events
This week I attended two local Meet the Candidates events, hosted by Grey Power at Papamoa Library and Bay Sands Retirement Village in Mount Maunganui. Both events provided a valuable opportunity for locals to meet local election candidates, ask questions, and discuss the issues that matter most to them. It was encouraging to see strong attendance and engagement, with discussions covering a wide range of topics important to our community. Events like these play an important role in our democratic process, giving people the opportunity to hear directly from candidates, share their views, and make informed decisions ahead of Election Day. I always appreciate the opportunity to meet people face-to-face, listen to their concerns, answer questions, and discuss the future of the Bay of Plenty.
BayPark Site Tour
This week I had the opportunity to visit Mercury Baypark and meet with Paul, Chad and the team from Bay Venues to learn more about the exciting developments planned for the site. Mercury Baypark is one of the Bay of Plenty's premier sporting and events facilities, hosting everything from community sport and major tournaments to entertainment and large-scale public events. During the tour, I received an update on plans to add six additional courts to the Mercury Arena, a project being delivered with support from TECT and Tauranga City Council. I also learned about wider site improvements, including future changes associated with new netball courts and the relocation of the speedway pit area, which will further enhance the facility for users and visitors. It was great to see the long-term vision for the site and the work underway to ensure Mercury Baypark continues to meet the needs of our growing community
AIMS Games: Community Support and Record‑Breaking Performances
The AIMS Games brought thousands of young athletes into Tauranga this week, with strong community backing and standout results. Local charity Good Neighbour supported the event by helping deliver food and logistics across venues, ensuring smooth operations for participants and families. At Waipuna Park, athletes achieved several record‑breaking cross‑country times, highlighting both the strength of youth sport in the region and the value of community organisations working behind the scenes.
Upcoming Events with Tom
Coffee Catch-Ups – Saturday 3 October!
Next Bay of Plenty Coffee Catch-Ups are locked in for Saturday 3 October in Maungatapu & Mount Maunganui!
Come along for a relaxed chat over a coffee about what matters to you in our community. No need to book, everyone is welcome. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Local Government - Public Meeting -
15 October - 7pm
Keep in Touch with me
Bay of Plenty Electorate Office, 3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa.
P: 07 542 0505
E: bopmp@parliament.govt.nz
If you live locally and would like to meet, please get in touch, my team and I are here to help.
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Hope you have a great weekend and if there is anything I can do to help - please give my office a call on 07 542 0505 or email me at bopmp@parliament.govt.nz
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