Hi John, I hope you're well.

In this month's update: 

• Kāpiti Expressway is now 110km/hr!
• Housing is improving locally
• Calling all tradies
• Join me for some Christmas events
• What am I doing locally?
• Coming events

Kāpiti Expressway is now 110km/hr!

More than 2000 of you signed my petition, and now the change we asked for has happened. The Kāpiti Expressway, from Raumati to Ōtaki, is now 110km/hr.

This is a safe, world-class expressway designed and built to be safe at this slightly higher speed. No one has ever died on any section of it which is a huge improvement on the old road, and I’m satisfied that this is a safe decision.

We need to speed up our growth and get our region moving. This is just one more step in our plan to rebuild our economy and get our region back on track.

Housing is improving locally

Have you seen how housing is improving? We now have only two households in emergency housing in Horowhenua, and right across our region the numbers are drastically down.

Our national statistics have improved dramatically. Last December there were 3,141 households in emergency accommodation; as of September there were only 1,179. That is a huge decrease, more than 60%, and sees a huge number of children now living in better homes under our new ‘Priority One’ policy.

We have significant new housing areas approved in both Kāpiti and Horowhenua, including three new Fast-Track areas which bring thousands of houses to our region. These, along with changes we’re moving through Parliament, are all part of our plan to go for housing growth and take New Zealand’s housing crisis head-on. One change of particular local interest will be our plan to ask councils to zone for 30 years of housing growth, but we’re not mandating medium-density areas; we believe in letting local council choose where to go up and where to go out.

Calling all tradies

I’m hosting yet another Minister on Tuesday 26th, this time Hon Chris Penk, the Minister of Building and Construction. I’m holding a free event for all local tradies and those who work in building and construction. If that’s you, please join us.

• Tuesday November 26th
• 2-3pm
• Techlam, Tirotiro Road, Levin

Join me for some Christmas events

I’ll be at all the public events, but here are two more you might like to join me at:

National Party Christmas Function

Join local me for a final catch up:

• Otaki Golf Club
• Monday November 25th
• 7-8.30pm
• No cost, cash bar, light supper provided

Over 60s Christmas Morning Tea

• Paraparaumu Beach Bowling Club
• Wednesday November 27th
• 10 – 11.30am
• $10, morning tea provided
• RSVP to Lorraine, [email protected]

What am I doing locally?

Rather than giving you a big run-down on all the different places I’ve been (because I think you know how busy I am), let me touch on a couple of key themes and areas where I’m working locally.

Helping people one-on-one

We’ve had some great success over the last month with individual cases for people that we work on. I prioritise those who need immediate help in my offices, and I also have a number of people who want to come and talk to me about areas of interest. Here’s some lovely feedback I got recently:

“While being on The Young Parent payment it was a lot of muck around constantly. When my benefit got cut If it wasn’t for Tim and his team I wouldn’t have even got the option of having a review of decision. I got told “ that was all we can do” and they stood firm in their decision until Tim and his team got involved and helped me. Then all of a sudden I got all these other options I could try when they were not offered before. I’m very thankful for Tim and his help and support as I have a young son. His help made it a lot easier.” Gemma.

Health

Health is a huge issue. I’ve visited more local health centres, met with our local workforce, and I regularly meet with the Minister, Dr Shane Reti, to discuss local issues. I’m fighting to get more services delivered locally in both Horowhenua and Kāpiti, as well as looking at ways we can tackle the immediate challenges we face in our workforce, especially GPs. There are no silver bullets but we must work hard and do all we can for the future. I’m also working on the challenges we have getting to hospitals when we need them.

I understand how significant health issues are for our region and I’ll keep working hard in this area.

Job Pathways

Young people shouldn’t grow up thinking they have to leave our region in pursuit of a trade, an apprenticeship, a degree or a career. We need to deliver training in our region, for good jobs that exist in our region, to keep our talent in our region. I’ve been working with MSD, employers and young people, building pathways for the next generation and to ensure we keep a strong and growing workforce in our region.

Coming Events

You can join me at any of these over the next month:

• Kāpiti Strawberry Festival, this Saturday at Kāpiti Primary School
• Foxton Christmas Fair, this Saturday, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
• Horowhenua Diwali Celebration, this Saturday, Levin Mall
• Christmas Drinks, Nov 25th, 7pm, Otaki Golf Club
• Tradies afternoon tea, Nov 26th, 2pm, Techlam Levin
• Over 60s morning tea, Nov 27th, 10am, Paraparaumu Beach Bowling Club
• Kāpiti Food Fair, Nov 30th, 10-3, Mazengarb Reserve
• Horowhenua Christmas Parade, Dec 7th, 2pm, Victoria St to Levin Domain
• Kāpiti Christmas Parade, Dec 8th, 11am, Paraparaumu College to Mazengarb Reserve

Please feel free to share this update with others.

Finally, remember to check out our video profile series on people form our community: Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.

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