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Dear John In this issue:
Farewell Kīngi and Welcome KuiniI’d like to acknowledge the passing of Kīngi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII and the new kuini of the Maori King Movement (or Kīngitanga) Ngā Wai hono i te pō. Her accession will be a bittersweet as she mourns the loss of her father and comes to terms with her new role. I look forward to working with her in future.
See my tribute in Parliament here. In the HouseIt has been a busy September in the House as we finalise delivering the 40 actions contained in our Government’s Quarter 3 action plan and look ahead to Quarter 4. Our plans for Quarter 4 will be announced soon and I am energised by the work ahead of us as we continue to deliver on our commitments. We have made some more major Government announcements including:
Tougher Sentences for Criminals Almost 30,000 more New Zealanders have experienced violent crime in the last two years – proof that a soft-on-crime approach has emboldened offenders. Cabinet has agreed on new sentencing reforms which prioritise victims and hold criminals to account. Sentencing reforms include:
I am happy to support this change which is in line with my Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill. Minister's NewsIt has been a busy month across my portfolios with several meetings, events and engagements. September highlights include:
Paralympic Games Success I have enjoyed watching the fantastic performance of the New Zealand Paralympic team in recent weeks.The team’s success in Paris included personal best times, New Zealand and Oceania records, and of course, winning some hard-fought medals! Our 24 Paralympians did us all proud through their success, integrity and sportsmanship. It was also great seeing the success of athletes from my electorate. Former Taupo cyclist and now Cambridge-based Anna Taylor won a silver medal in the C4 3000m individual pursuit. Cambridge-based Nicole Murray also won bronze in the C5 3000m individual pursuit. Paralympics New Zealand, High Performance Sport NZ, Sport NZ, Chef de Mission Raylene Bates, her team of professionals and the athletes’ families and friends also deserve recognition for the work they do behind the scenes which enables the athletes to succeed. Disability ParkingWe are
cracking down on people who misuse car parks for disabled people,
sending a clear message that this behaviour is not acceptable by
increasing the current $150 penalty to $750 for people who misuse
mobility parking.
Apology to Abuse in Care Victims Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will deliver an apology to survivors of abuse in care on Tuesday 12 November 2024 in Parliament. For those who would like to attend, but are unable to, there will be concurrent events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Survivors of abuse in care (and one support person) can register to attend the Parliament event or the event closest to their home. Travel and food expenses will be covered, as well as a night’s accommodation for those who need to travel. Registration will close on Monday 30 September. If demand for a location exceeds available space, a ballot will be held. Notification of the ballot will be given by 12 October. Contact:
FamilyBoost Government wants children aged 5 or under to get the best start in life with quality early education. Eligible families earning up to $180,000 (New Zealand tax residents) can now register through Inland Revenue’s my IR system (ird.govt.nz) for FamilyBoost payments to help with early childhood education costs from licensed ECE providers. Applications for reimbursement (for fees incurred between 1 July and 30 September) open on 1 October 2024. Eligible families can be reimbursed up to 25 per cent of their early childhood education fees, up to $75 per week or $975 every three months, providing relief for families struggling with the cost of living. Suffrage Anniversary
Thursday 19 September marked 131 years since New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote (1893). Forty years later, Elizabeth McCombs became New Zealand’s first female Member of Parliament in 1933. It took 89 years for women to hold the majority of seats in Parliament which happened for the first time in 2022. In the 54th Parliament, 46.3 per cent of MPs are women. Since 1893, over 195 women have represented New Zealand as MPs and I am proud to be the 108th female MP to enter our Parliament. I am equally proud to be part of the National Party with so many strong women among our MPs (pictured above), volunteers and supporters. The first Taupō electorate existed from 1963 until 1981. Rona Stevenson MBE was its first MP, the fourth female National MP and tenth female MP in New Zealand. I am the second woman to represent the Taupō electorate. Women like Rona paved the way for all of us. As the Acting Minister for Women on Suffrage Day, I was delighted to acknowledge this milestone in the House and acknowledge the contributions of the suffragists who have fought to advance women’s rights and those continuing the fight for gender equality today. Electorate NewsThird Medical School Update I’m pleased to report that the initial cost-benefit analysis of establishing a University of Waikato-based medical school has provided Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and the University confidence to progress the project to a full business case. The business case will take some time to collate and analyse. Further announcements will follow its completion. It's great to see we're another step closer! Scam Alert! Online scams using political figures, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has issued a public warning that deepfake videos and fake news articles are tricking people into investing in fraudulent schemes. One fake claim is that pensions are being cut and people are being encouraged to invest in fraudulent schemes or ‘investment opportunities’. Ads lead to websites asking for personal information and prompt you to make small investments. Pensions are not being cut. Significant Government announcements will always be made through reputable news agencies. If you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately to see if you can reverse the transaction, contact an IT professional to check your device for malware, and report the scam to Netsafe. Falling victim to a scam can be traumatic. You can phone Victim Support on 0800 842 846. SH1/SH29 RoundaboutTwo temporary approaches to the Piarere roundabout (at the intersection of SH1 and SH29) are now in use and work continues on the Tirau approach. Please slow down and follow directions to keep road workers and other motorists safe. Vehicles travelling from Cambridge to Tirau will need to go around the roundabout and double back, taking a hairpin turn to the left back onto SH1. This is a temporary measure. The completed roundabout will make a huge difference to traffic flows.
SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Upgrade NZTA Waka Kotahi has begun intense maintenance and rehabilitation work on SH1 between Tīrau and Waiouru. Before Christmas 2024 work will only be carried out north of Taupō. The sections between Tīrau and Putāruru and between Ātiamuri and Wairakei are nearing completion. Below are further closures to be aware of:
Before you travel, check here. Taupō Women's GroupIt was lovely to join the Taupō Women's Group as they celebrated their 50-year anniversary. The group is a great example of strong women supporting each other and just having fun! Community is essential to humans. Pride in Putāruru Business and Community AwardsCongratulations to the award recipients of the Pride in Putāruru Business and Community Awards – you are all so deserving of the recognition. Emcee Ben Hurley kept us entertained throughout the evening and it was lovely to see everyone rocking their Hollywood glam! It is so uplifting to celebrate success and see people recognised for their efforts. Congratulations also to Daniel Perian and Josh Handley who were awarded their apprenticeship certificates. A lot of hard work has gone into attaining them. With recent changes made to the Resource Management Act and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development and more choice and competition in building materials, I’m confident there will be an upturn in the building and construction industry in the near future and you will be able to put your skills to good use. SWIFT Scholarships OpenIf you’re living in the South Waikato District and want to further your studies, take a look at SWIFT’s (South Waikato Investment Fund Trust) website. Applications for the SWIFT Education Scholarship Scheme are open now and close at the end of October. Upcoming Engagement OpportunitiesFacebook LiveJoin me online to discuss the issues that currently concern you on the second Tuesday of each month. My next live chat will be: Tuesday 8 October 8 p.m. See this month's Facebook Live here.
Cambridge Friendly Forum Friday 18 October, 10:00–11:30a.m. Cambridge Town Hall Victorian Room Victoria Street, Cambridge (Disability access via the Edwardian Room on Lake Street) RSVP to 07 376 5563 or [email protected] South Waikato Friendly Forum Friday 1 November, 10:00–11:30a.m. The Plaza Theatre, 50 Kensington Street, Putāruru RSVP to 07 8865554 or [email protected] South Waikato Clinic – Online Friday, 1 November 2024, 1:00–2:30p.m. Please call 07 8865554 or email [email protected] for an appointment. Taupō Friendly Forum Friday 8 November, 10:00–11:30a.m. Lake Taupō Rotary Club, 12 Story Place, Taupō Please RSVP by calling 07 3765563 or emailing [email protected] Taupō Clinic Friday, 8 November 2024, 2:00–3:30p.m. Please call 07 8865554 or email [email protected] for an appointment. Electorate AssistancePhone 07 8275572 or email [email protected] Phone 07 8865554 or email [email protected] Phone 07 3765563 or email [email protected] Kind regards Louise Upston Funded by Parliamentary Service |
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