Dear John 

In this issue:

- In the House
- Minister's News
- Electorate News
- Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

In the House

After a busy fortnight in October recess, the House was straight into a two-week sitting block as we make progress on our Quarter 4 commitments.

The Government’s Quarter 4 Action Plan is focused on making it easier and faster to build infrastructure in New Zealand as part of our wider plan to rebuild the economy.

Our final action plan for 2024 will build on our previous quarterly action plans and continue to deliver on the Government’s core priorities of rebuilding the economy, restoring law and order, and delivering better public services.

It contains 43 actions, including two that fall under my portfolios:

- introducing legislation to expand the Traffic Light System to include additional consequences for beneficiaries who do not meet their obligations
- providing 10,000 jobseeker beneficiaries with an over-the-phone case manager to help them move from welfare into work

We are well on track to deliver these actions and I look forward to the outcomes of this quarter as we head into the Christmas period.

Minister's News

As usual, it has been a busy month across my portfolios. I spent the October recess travelling across the North Island for several meetings, events and engagements. Thank you to Dan Bidois, Ryan Hamilton, Tama Potaka and Katie Nimon for hosting me in their respective electorates.

First stop was Auckland for two days. Highlights included:

- visiting Active Institute, which provides a learning environment for people from different backgrounds to gain skills
- visiting Te Kotahitanga Training, a Māori private training establishment helping people get road-ready
- visiting Tāmaki Regeneration, which is transforming the area with better housing, infrastructure, education and jobs
- speaking at the Skills VR Launch where they are using virtual reality training to help people get job-ready or upskill
- visiting Morton and Perry – assistive technology providers based in Northcote
- visiting Creative Abilities where I met with disabled people, their families and carers and viewed their facilities
- speaking at the Launch of THRIVE which is a programme targeted at supporting MSD clients with experienced professional backgrounds. I met with employers, industry representatives and participants of the programme.

Then I was off to the Waikato. Highlights included:

- visiting Waahi Whaanui which is making a difference supporting families across the Waikato
- visiting Smart Waikato which partners with iwi, business, education and government agencies to support young people from education into employment
- visiting Waikato Women’s Refuge with Minister Potaka
- visiting Community Living Oranga Haapori, a not-for-profit organisation supporting disabled people

I then visited my electorate of Taupō with my ministerial hat on. Highlights included:

- visiting Te Whariki Aroha Collective, a group of organisations working together to support families across Taupō and Tūrangi
- visiting Connexu, a not-for-profit organisation supporting disabled people
- visiting the Taupō Budget Advisory Trust, a financial capability provider that provides financial mentoring, community education and advocacy services

Last stop for the week was Hawke’s Bay. Highlights were:

- visiting Building Futures, which is supporting MSD clients to upskill, become work-ready, and be placed into employment in the construction and building sector. I met with several trainees from the current cohort and saw their work in action!
- opening Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay’s Cunningham House which was a significant milestone for Hōhepa and the people who will live there and call it home

People First New Zealand Birthday Party



People First New Zealand Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi recently celebrated 21 years in Hamilton! The organisation was created for people with learning disabilities, and it is run by them too.

I enjoyed attending this happy occasion with such a well-dressed group.

Electorate News

One Year Since Election Night!

It has been one year since you re-elected me as the MP for Taupō on 14 October! Thank you to everyone across Tūrangi, Taupō, South Waikato and Cambridge.

I am incredibly proud to serve as your MP, and as a Minister in our Government. We made three key promises to you – to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and deliver better public services. We’ve made good progress, but I know there’s still more to do to get New Zealand back on track.

Thank you for putting your faith in me. I’ll keep working hard to represent you to the best of my ability.

Quilt Symposium Cambridge

It was a pleasure to welcome around 120 national and overseas tutors, merchants and sponsors to the 2024 Waikato Quilt Symposium, this year hosted in Cambridge.



The Cambridge High School Kapa Haka Group welcomed our national and overseas visitors with a stunning performance.

About 625 quilters registered to attend some of the 100 classes in quilting techniques held at Cambridge High School.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.



Mammograms are essential to early detection of breast cancer which enables better treatment outcomes. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has extended free mammograms to women aged 70–74. I encourage you to attend regular checks.

The government has also boosted Pharmac's funding for life-changing medicines by $604 million – medicines like Keytruda for advanced triple negative breast cancer and Enhertu for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer.

Fast-Track Approvals Bill Projects

The Resource Management Act has dampened housing development, inhibited infrastructure development and held back productivity and growth.

Government is amending the Act. The Fast-Track Approvals Bill will support economic growth by speeding up consenting. Nationally, 149 housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, mining, aquaculture, farming, and quarrying projects with significant regional or national benefits have been identified as benefitting immediately from this legislation.

The section of SH1 from Cambridge to Piarere is one such project that has been earmarked for Fast-Track Approval. I will bring you updates as the process progresses.

Local Electorate Visits

During the last month I've continued regular meetings with councils, community organisations and businesses. See some examples below.

Cambridge Community MenzShed

The Cambridge MenzShed <[link removed]> is working hard to make the former Leamington Dairy Factory a workshop space.



It will be a fantastic place for guys to chew the fat while they work on their projects. I'm sure they'll have some good advice for me next time I visit!

Brian Perry Charitable Trust Peake Mews



It's great to see some practical solutions for affordable housing at Peake Mews in Cambridge.

Blocks of two- and three-bedroomed terraced houses, complete with landscaped gardens and outdoor living and active recreation areas, are being built by the Brian Perry Charitable Trust and sold to first-home buyers who pay the cost of construction. The trust retains ownership of the land and buyers purchase a 100-year lease to the land, set below market rates.

When the owner moves on, they sell the house back to the trust at the original price plus inflation.

Conservation Fund Applications Open

The Department of Conservation’s $9.2 million Community Fund <[link removed]> is available for community groups, iwi and private landowners New Zealand-wide for projects that protect and restore threatened species and ecosystems. Applications are open until 28 November.

Examples of previous initiatives include predator control and restoring habitats of threatened species.

For more details visit the website, email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> or phone 0800 86 20 20.

Regional Infrastructure Fund 

The Government's Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) will grow the economy by enabling regional prosperity and creating new jobs.

It will drive regional productivity, prosperity, and resilience by focusing on Resilience Infrastructure (to improve a region's ability to adapt and respond to stresses and shocks) and Enabling Infrastructure (to support growth by ensuring regions are well-connected and productive).

We encourage businesses, iwi, council, and community groups in the region to use the fund to build infrastructure for growth and resilience.

Waikato Regional Council | Te Kaunihera ā Rohe o Waikato, Waikato Pacific Business Network, Te Waka Waikato | Economic Development, Waikato Wellbeing Project | Hinonga toiora o Waikato, and Future Proof | Te Tau Tītoki have decided on some Waikato Regional priorities including:

- logistics and distribution
- sustainable food and agriculture/land use
- high-value manufacturing
- technology, digital, and I.C.T
- energy and sustainability
- tourism

Details about the eligibility and application process can be found on the Kānoa <[link removed]> website.

Retirement Villages Act Review

Following 11,000 public submissions in 2023, the coalition Government is progressing the Retirement Villages Act 2003 review which will focus on three key areas:  

- maintenance and repairs of operator-owned chattels and fixtures
- managing complaints and disputes 
- options for incentivising or requiring earlier capital repayments when residents move out of a village

The continuation of the Retirement Village Act review reflects the Government’s agreement to work with the sector and safeguard the interests of the residents living in retirement villages. 

Ministers Potaka and Costello will receive a series of briefings next year on these priorities, before seeking Cabinet agreement for legislative change in 2026.  



SH1/SH29 Roundabout 

Work continues on the Piarere roundabout and queues are common on this section of SH1. Southbound Cambridge traffic needs to travel around the roundabout, double back, and negotiate a hairpin turn (as indicated by the black roads below), so please drive cautiously.



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. 

You will have noticed some smooth new sections of SH1 between Piarere roundabout and Putāruru. I’d like to give a shout out to the road workers who are completing some of this maintenance and repair overnight to cause minimal disruption to travellers.

Work is also being undertaken between SH32 Tokoroa to SH30 Ātiamuri until early November. A detour (an extra 47.4kms taking 34 minutes) is in place.

Consult NZTA’s Journey Planner <[link removed]> to find out where roadworks will be and how much extra time to allow if necessary.

You can subscribe to receive NZTA's updates here <[link removed]>.

Central Plateau Dancing for Life Education

What an amazing night with 20 community champions who had trained and practised for 4 or 5 months before taking to the stage with fun, flair, style and sass to raise money for Life Education Trust Central Plateau.

The overall winner and people's choice dancers were Libby O'Brien and Mike Bennett. Congratulations!

Last time I was dancing in the Dancing for Life Education fundraiser. This time I was a judge. I don't know which was harder!

Taupō Mayoral Community Awards

Nominations for the 2024 Taupō Mayoral Community Awards are now open. The awards recognise volunteers who enhance community wellbeing.

Details are available here <[link removed]>. Nominations close at 5p.m. on Friday 15 November.

Cambridge Friendly Forum

It was nice to catch up with some of you at the recent Friendly Forum in Cambridge. It was heartening to know that your concerns are also our concerns, and we're directing our energies into the areas that matter to you.



Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

Facebook Live

Join me online to discuss the issues that currently concern you on the second Tuesday of each month. 

My next live chat will be: 

Tuesday 12November8 p.m.

Facebook@louiseupstonmp <[link removed]>

See this month's Facebook Live here <[link removed]>.

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]

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] <mailto:[email protected]>

Taupō Clinic

Friday, 8 November 2024, 2:00–3:30p.m.

Please call 07 8865554 or [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>for an appointment.

Electorate Assistance

Phone 07 8275572 or email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

Phone 07 8865554 or email [email protected]

Phone 07 3765563 or email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

Kind regards

Louise Upston
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