It's my final update for the year. My Christmas tree is up, the gas bottle is filled up for the BBQ season, but I haven't checked out of work yet. So a quick wrap-up...

Thank you

Thank you for your support over the last year. Thank you to everyone who stopped with kind words and encouragement. Thank you to everyone who invited me to visit their community group, their business, their school or their farm.

I can't serve in this role without all the support and I'm so grateful to all of you.

The PM has been back in town

I was proud to host our Prime Minister, Rt Hon Chris Luxon, in Horowhenua today. We opened new social housing in Levin, and then visited Lewis Farms where we met the team picking fruit, visited the packhouse, and then served ice creams and strawberries to customers. To have the PM visit our region twice this year is a huge sign of support. Nicola Willis is the next visitor in January! (see below)

One year on

It's just over a year since I started as your local MP and we formed a new Government. Here are a few highlights:

Kiwis have more money at the end of the week, after tax relief at the budget and mortgage rates coming down three times in the last few months. Inflation is firmly back in the target range for the first time in a couple of years, and fruit and vege prices have decreased over the last year. Our plan to rebuild the economy is working, and while there's more work to do we are tracking in the right direction.

Kiwis feel safer in their homes and businesses. Crime "victimisation" (the technical term) is down, ram raids are down, serious and violent crime is down, gang patches are banned (and the law is working really well despite Labour saying it was impossible), we've targetted gangs with new law around firearms, Police powers to disperse and ban them from meeting, and Police Officers on the beat are up.

Kiwis can have confidence that school achievement is back on track. Phones are banned, and reading, writing and maths are locked in for an hour a day. From the start of next year we're introducing structured literacy and structured maths. These are proven to improve achievement, and where they are already in use in our local schools that has been the experience.

Local highlights

• The Kāpiti Expressway is now 110km/hr!

• I've hosted every single front-bench (senior) Minister including the PM twice, and 25 MPs in total. That's more than two every month and doesn't count those who have come multiple times.

• I've visited more than half of our local schools, attended hundreds of events, met thousands of people.

Over the last month

There have been so many great summer events: the Strawberry Festival, the Kāpiti Half Marathon, the Food Fair, two Christmas parades, Diwali, end of year events, and 'thank you' events I attended or hosted to acknowledge all that our many volunteers have done in our community.

And that is the biggest highlight of all: the people. It has been meeting people, helping people, and making a difference for people locally that has been the biggest highlight of all.

My first event back is the Horowhenua AP&I show, Saturday January 18th, with Minister of Finance Nicola Willis, and Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay. Until then...

Merry Christmas, and I hope you have a safe and relaxing New Year.

Best wishes

41 Pipitea Street
Thorndon, Wellington 6011
New Zealand

Authorised by Tim Costley, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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