National Launches Its Campaign for a Second Term
On Sunday, National officially launched its 2026 election campaign with a clear message: while progress has been made, the job is not done. The campaign focuses on growing the economy, creating more jobs, keeping taxes down, backing frontline services and continuing to build the infrastructure New Zealand needs for the future. National's commitments include stronger economic growth, better healthcare, tougher action on crime, improved educational achievement, greater supermarket competition and responsible management of the Government's finances.
Positive Economic News in the Pre-election Fiscal Update
This week’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) provides encouraging news about New Zealand's economic outlook. Treasury's forecasts show the Government's finances improving more quickly than expected, with lower projected deficits, reduced borrowing requirements and a stronger pathway back to surplus. The update forecasts the deficit for 2026/27 to be significantly lower than projected in the Budget and confirms New Zealand remains on track to return to surplus in 2028/29. Treasury also expects the economy to continue growing and unemployment to trend down over the coming years, providing a stronger foundation for jobs, investment and higher incomes.
Over the next four years Treasury forecasts:
- A return to surplus in 2028/2029
- Borrowing $15 billion less than forecast and lower debt servicing costs
- The economy growing at an average of 2.6 per cent
- Wages rising faster than prices
- 220,000 more jobs
- Inflation to fall to 1.9 % by June 2027
Delivering Better Healthcare for New Zealanders
The latest health target results show encouraging progress, with all five of the Government's health targets improving in the April to June quarter. More patients are receiving cancer treatment faster, childhood immunisation rates are increasing, emergency department wait times are improving, and fewer people are waiting too long for elective procedures and specialist assessments. After years of decline, the health system is moving in the right direction, supported by record investment and a strong focus on accountability and outcomes for patients.
Replacing the Resource Management Act
After more than three decades, the Resource Management Act is being replaced with a new planning system designed to make it faster and easier to build the homes, infrastructure and energy projects New Zealand needs. The reforms will reduce unnecessary red tape, provide greater certainty for communities and investors, and help unlock housing and economic growth while maintaining environmental protections. It's a significant step towards addressing the barriers that have slowed development and increased costs for communities across the country.
For fast-growing communities like Tauranga and the Western Bay, these changes will help support the delivery of housing, transport links and infrastructure needed to accommodate future growth.
Stronger Action on Crime
There are now 37,000 fewer victims of serious violent crime than when the Government took office, reflecting continued progress in reducing crime and improving public safety. This sits alongside other law and order achievements, including major reductions in ram raids and youth offending, stronger powers for Police, and tougher sentencing laws. Keeping communities safe remains a priority, with a continued focus on supporting Police and tackling offending.
Turning Around Education Outcomes and Setting Children Up for Success
New international education results show New Zealand has stopped the decline in maths, reading and science achievement, with science results improving. Particularly encouraging is the progress among lower-performing students, who made substantial gains across all three subjects. Attendance rates have also improved significantly, with regular attendance rising from 39 per cent in 2022 to 64 per cent in 2026.
National has announced plans to end screen use in early childhood education centres, introduce limits on screen time in primary schools, and establish a School Start Check to help children transition into formal schooling. The focus is on strengthening early learning through books, conversation, hands-on activities and direct interaction, while identifying children who may need extra support before they start school.
Supporting Seniors in Retirement Villages
The Government has announced changes to strengthen protections for retirement village residents. Eligible former residents will receive 10 per cent of their net termination proceeds within four weeks of leaving, with the balance paid within nine months. The reforms also include improved contract protections, earlier access to funds in certain circumstances and stronger minimum standards across the sector.
Supporting Our Firefighters
Firefighters play a vital role in protecting communities from fires, accidents, floods and other emergencies. National has announced a three-point plan to strengthen Fire and Emergency New Zealand by improving accountability, increasing health and wellbeing support for volunteer firefighters, and ensuring appliances, training and equipment are available where needed. The plan is designed to ensure frontline firefighters have the resources and support they need to keep New Zealanders safe.
Backing First Home Buyers
Getting a deposit together remains one of the biggest barriers to home ownership. National has announced plans to extend eligibility for the First Home Loan scheme by lifting the income cap to $300,000 for all buyers. The scheme allows eligible first-home buyers to purchase with as little as a 5 per cent deposit, helping more Kiwis take their first step onto the property ladder.
Helping More New Zealanders into Work
More New Zealanders are moving from welfare into employment, with 86,544 people leaving a main benefit for work in the year to June 2026, an increase of 5,772 on the previous year. National is continuing to pair practical employment support with clear expectations, as part of its goal to reduce the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support by 50,000 by 2030. A growing economy and the dignity and independence that come with work remain central to building a more secure future for New Zealanders.
Supporting Unpaid Carers
Thousands of New Zealanders quietly provide care and support to family members, friends and loved ones every day, often balancing those responsibilities alongside work and family commitments. A new Government roadmap aims to better recognise the vital role unpaid carers play in our communities by improving access to information, services and support, while ensuring government agencies work more closely together to help carers navigate the assistance available to them. The New Zealand Carers' Strategy - Ministry of Social Development
Free Cervical Screening for All Women
From 1 March 2027, cervical screening will be free for all women aged 25 to 69. Currently many women pay between $35 and $100 for screening, creating a barrier to early detection. Around 786,000 additional women will become eligible for free screening under the new policy. The change supports New Zealand's goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040, building on initiatives including extended breast screening and expanded bowel cancer screening. Early detection remains one of the most effective ways to save lives.
Backing Tourism and Regional Growth
Tourism supports one in nine jobs across New Zealand, and new investments are being made to help attract more international visitors to regional communities. Funding from the International Visitor Levy will support regional tourism partnerships throughout the country, helping showcase local attractions, food, hospitality and visitor experiences. The Government is also resetting the International Visitor Levy to provide greater support for local councils while avoiding new taxes on New Zealanders
Around New Zealand and Tauranga
I represented National at the BusinessNZ 2026 Election Health Forum in Auckland on behalf of Health Minister Simeon Brown. I’m proud of the work our government has done to restore health targets, bring down wait times, provide thousands more elective surgeries, put record funding into primary care and hospital and specialist services, fund 66 new medicines including 33 new cancer drugs, hired more doctors and nurses, devolved decision-making to the regions and undertaken the crucial work to restore a first world health system in New Zealand.
We need to grow our economy so we can put more money into health and get the medicines New Zealanders need.
Thank you BusinessNZ for hosting and everyone across the health system for your tireless work.
Family First Good families and strong values are crucial to the wellbeing of our communities. They are the foundation of a healthy and high functioning society.
My wife Julia and I really enjoyed joining the 800+ in attendance at Family First New Zealand’s 20th conference. There were many inspiring speakers and it was great to meet a couple of heroes too, knowing what they stand for and having the courage to do so publicly. It made me even more determined to beat the leftist opposition and their socialist, identity driven agenda in November.
It was fantastic to be at the Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust to highlight our recent announcement of $450,000 in funding for the Trust. This investment is part of our wider Government commitment to reducing child and youth offending through sport and physical activity. By backing proven, community led solutions like Te Aranui Rangatahi Pathways, we are helping ensure young people have positive opportunities and a clear path away from the youth justice system.
Tauranga Updates
We saw a positive step forward for Tauranga this week, with the resignation of TCC’s CEO. This outcome reflects the strong wishes, as expressed to me, by our community.
My best wishes to the mayor, elected members and staff at TCC as we work together to improve governance, accountability and the well-being of our region.
You’ll have seen my volunteers and I putting up our National hoardings throughout the Tauranga electorate. We’re excited to meet lots of you, sharing our election campaign message about ensuring New Zealand continues moving forward and building on the progress already made.
Thank you Bevan, Roxy and the amazing team at Tai O Fenua Kindergarten for inviting me to their Meet the Candidates event. It was great to talk with parents and staff about early childhood education and wider social and economic issues that affect our multi-cultural city of Tauranga. Hearing a range of perspectives is always a highlight of community debates.
I enjoyed connecting with local businesses in Te Puna including Garth at Bostock Butchery and James at Grove Avocado Oil. Te Puna is a crucial player in Tauranga’s food production sector, and a wonderful local community.
I caught up with nurses Alison and Trish, along with local Bethlehem nurses at the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ Pink Campervan in Bethlehem. They tour the country with specialist breast nurses aboard to offer completely free breast health advice, answer questions about mammograms and risk factors, and demonstrate what to look out for using hands on tools. Early detection saves lives. Mammograms are free for women aged 45 to 74 every two years, and finding cancer early makes a massive difference. Mammograms can detect cancers as small as 2 millimetres. While a lump is a well known symptom, there are other signs to watch for too, so checking regularly and seeing your GP if you notice any changes is vital no matter your age. I am proud to be part of a government that raised the age for free breast screening from 69 to 74 to ensure more women get the care they need. To see where the vans are heading next, check out https://www.breastcancerfoundation.org.nz/what-we-do/awareness-and-education/our-pink-campervans
Zespri AIMS Games is a beautiful thing. Like the Olympics for kids. It was awesome watching the passion and enjoyment of the competitors on display. To have it in Tauranga every year is even more cool. Over 14,500 athletes from 467 schools competing across 27 sporting codes. Thank you Zespri and everyone else for making the event happen and for bringing joy to so many.
Did you get to the Greerton Blossom Festival? I missed it due to Parliament sitting but I always enjoy connecting Greerton locals, including Robyn, Jeemun and others. Such a colourful part of Tauranga with lots to see, buy and eat! I’ll be there again this Monday from 12-1 at Le Chat Noir Café so if you feel like saying hi, drop by my Café Clinic Catchup.
It was great to see such an array of artistic talent at Wednesday’s launch of the Tauranga Society of Artists’ Expo at Tauranga Boys’ College. I highly recommend dropping by the show this weekend. You can vote for your favourite piece and you can also purchase artworks to brighten your home or give as gifts to loved ones.
Events for your diary
Monday 12 October: Hon Mark Mitchell will be addressing a joint Tauranga-Mount Maunganui Public Meeting at the Sport Fishing Club at Sulphur Point at 5pm. A great opportunity to hear from National’s Spokesperson on Police and Corrections, and ask questions too. There will be food and drinks available for purchase.
Thursday 15 October: Hon Simon Watts will be addressing a joint Tauranga-Mount Maunganui Public Meeting at Classic Flyers at 7pm. Simon is National’s Local Government Spokesperson and this will be a popular event for Tauranga ratepayers following the resignation of TCC’s CEO and with a great deal of community interest in some of the decisions made locally over the last 8 years.
Tuesday 20 October: Morning Tea in Bethlehem. If you’re a National Party member you’ll be invited to our regular SuperBlues directly. October’s event is also open to guests so if you’re interested in attending just reply to this email requesting time and venue details.
If you need assistance with a government agency or would like help navigating any government service, please do not hesitate to contact my office: 07 577 0923 and taurangamp@parliament.govt.nz.
I look forward to seeing you out and about over the coming weeks. If you don't already follow my socials, you may like to get my updates on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok.
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!
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