Dear John

In this issue:

* Resolutions

* Minister's News

* In the House

* Electorate News

* Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

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RESOLUTIONS

Happy New Year! I wish you strength and fortitude in sticking to your New Year’s
Resolutions!

Each year I commit to serving my constituents to the best of my ability and
making decisions in my portfolio areas which will benefit the most New
Zealanders in the long term, and this year is no exception.


MINISTER'S NEWS


NEW ROLES

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently adjusted his team’s portfolios with
the goal of driving economic growth – Government's focus for 2025.

In addition to being Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Disability
Issues, Social Development and Employment and Child Poverty Reduction, I have
been assigned the Tourism and Hospitality portfolio and I’m now Deputy Leader of
the House.



I was pleased to announce, alongside Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, that Government is relaxing visitor visa
requirements to allow tourists to work remotely for a foreign employer while
travelling in New Zealand. Attracting 'digital nomads' and allowing them to stay
longer and spend more is a plus for our tourism industry and the economy.

I have been meeting with groups from the tourism sector to learn about its
opportunities and challenges.

China Travel Services presented me with a gift to acknowledge the year of the
snake.





KAHURANGI (DAME) TARIANA TURIA (8 APRIL 1944 – 3 JANUARY 2025)

I joined Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, former Prime Minister Bill English
and Ministerial colleagues at the funeral/tangi of Kahurangi (Dame) Tariana
Turia at Whangaehu Marae last month.

Tariana and I crossed paths often when we both represented South Waikato for six
years. I was MP for Taupō, and she was MP for Te Tai Hauauru electorate. We both
held portfolios in Community and Voluntary and Disability Issues.

She was one of New Zealand’s most impactful leaders. She was always about people
and service and led by her principles. She believed in the strength of family
and the ability of strong families to overcome challenges. She was quiet but
fierce, graceful and full of grit. People often underestimated her – at their
peril! She was loving and loved by so many, and will be missed.


BUSINESS CONFIDENCE HIGHEST SINCE 2021

I’m looking forward to the changes our Coalition Government has made taking
effect this year. We are seeing positive signs.

The recent New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Quarterly Survey of
Business Opinion shows an uptick in business confidence in the last quarter
(October – December 2024), the highest level since 2021, and an expectation of
increased economic activity.

Part of this optimism stems from the three official cash rate drops since August
and annual inflation dropping to 2.2 per cent, lowering the cost of borrowing
for businesses wanting to invest and grow.

Businesses hiring more staff and providing higher incomes for workers is a win
for all Kiwis.

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IN THE HOUSE

The House resumed sitting on Tuesday. My new role as Deputy Leader of the House
will see me stand in for the current leader, Hon Chris Bishop, when necessary.
The role has three main functions:

* managing the Government’s business in the House (e.g. its law-making
programme)

* determining the order of Government business in the House

* moving motions for the Government that relate to the House’s procedures.

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ELECTORATE NEWS


NEW YEAR HONOURS

Congratulations to the people from the Taupō Electorate who were recognised in
the 2025 New Year Honours List.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM):

Mrs Belinda Henderson Walker
[link removed] of Taupō. For
services to the community.

King’s Service Medal (KSM):

Mr Colin Terence Campbell
[link removed] of Taupō. For
services to horse racing and governance.

Mr Grahame Roy Perry Webber
[link removed] of Cambridge. For
services to local government and farming governance.


YOUTH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT APPLICATIONS OPEN

I am seeking applicants from my electorate for three opportunities:

* Youth Member of Parliament

* Youth Press Gallery member

* Youth Advisory Board member

Youth Parliament offers an opportunity to young people to experience the
political process and learn about how government works.

Youth MPs talk to young people in their schools and communities and bring their
perspectives directly to Parliament to advocate for them and debate the issues
they are passionate about.

Applicants must be able to commit to the full programme (late April to August),
including two days in Parliament (1 and 2 July).

Up to 20 young people across New Zealand will also be selected as Youth Press
Gallery members. They report on the Youth MPs' activities and learn about the
important role the Press Gallery plays.

Applications will open on Monday 3 February 2025 and close at 12 noon on Friday
28 February 2025.

Young people aged 16 to 18 years on the application closing date are eligible to
become a Youth MP, while Youth Press Gallery members can be aged between 16 and
24 years.

Each year I invite young people to join my Youth Advisory Board. This year,
meetings will be held on 4 April and 6 June in Tokoroa.

This forum includes an introduction to Parliament, but its main function is to
allow students from across the electorate to meet and discuss issues which are
important to them and their peers.

It enables me to gauge the views, opinions and ideas of the participants and
their communities and allows me to represent them accurately in Parliament.

For details about how to apply, please email [email protected]


ROADWORKS

Road works continue 24/7 on State Highway 1, with detours in place for extended
periods.

Work continues on the Cambridge approach to the Piarere roundabout. It will be
completed early this year.

SH1 between Tūrangi and Waiouru will remain closed until the middle of March
while sections of the road are reconstructed, drainage is improved, shoulders
are cleared and the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge is replaced.

The climate in this area only allows a small window of opportunity to complete
significant road maintenance. There was even snow over the Christmas period!

While the closure is inconvenient in the short term, the alternative is four
years of stop/go controls.

Detours to the west of SH1 are in place. NZ Police will have an increased
presence on these routes.

The north–south detour is via SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49 returning to SH1 in Waiouru,
adding around 30–40 minutes to the journey. The speed limit near and through
Ohakune will be 50km/h while the detour is in place.

The Tongariro National Trout Centre remains open and accessible for visitors off
SH1, shown in orange on the map.

The black road on map from Tongariro National Trout Centre to the Desert Road
gates near Waiouru will only be accessible for those travelling from the north
booked with Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures, DOC sites and access roads such as
Waipakahi Road or Tukino Access Road, except when the bridge deck is being
replaced.




Just a reminder that the section of Horahora Road between Lancewood Lane and
Pokaiwhenua  Bridge will have a trial 80km/h speed limit in place for six
months.

As road works are weather dependent and subject to change, I encourage you to
visit the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Journey Planner
[link removed]
webpage to see when and where detours are in place and how much extra time you
need to add to your journey. Please be patient as there are stop/go controls on
some detour routes also.


SPEED LIMIT CONSULTATION

Speed limit changes across New Zealand are being made to support economic
growth, boost productivity, and enable people to get to where they are going
efficiently and safely. SH1 Hātepe to Tūrangi (Lake Taupō) is a State Highway
interregional connector, and under new rules, NZTA Waka Kotahi is required to
reinstate previous speed limits on all interregional connectors, unless public
consultation shows there is support to keep them at current levels.

You can have your say on Waikato speed limits here
[link removed]
and Napier to Taupō speed limits here
[link removed]


VELVET LEAF

Velvetleaf is an invasive weed which grows up to 2.5m tall, competes with crops
for space, nutrients and water and can cause up to 70 per cent reduction in crop
yields. Landowners are responsible for the very difficult job of eradicating it.
Velvetleaf is often spread by farm machinery or contaminated maize brought on
farm. Check before you buy, and clean machinery thoroughly before allowing it in
the gate.

Suspected sightings should be reported to the regional council or Sally Linton
[email protected] [email protected]




‘CHECK CLEAN DRY’ TO PREVENT INVASIVE PEST CLAMS

It was pleasing to see the Regional Council has allocated over $400,000 to
purchase equipment and storage facilities in a bid to contain the invasive Asian
or Gold Clam pest in the Waikato River and hydro dams.

Just a reminder that two Controlled Area Notices are in force – one for the
Waikato River and another for the Te Arawa lakes (Rotorua area) with additional
protections for Lake Ōkataina.

Please Check Clean Dry
[link removed]
any boats or equipment that you have had in the Waikato River, or the lakes
along it, to prevent the spread of the clams.

That includes washing your togs and towels in hot water and drying them
thoroughly (for 48 hours on the clothesline) before using them in a different
waterway.

Inflatables, life jackets, wet suits, buckets and spades - anything which has
been in contact with the water or sand - needs to be thoroughly cleaned and
dried.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has a great video and information about how
you should do this here
[link removed]



Photo credit: NIWA


TOURISM SUCCESSES

As MP for Taupō, and now Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, it is great to
see the recent tourism successes in the electorate.

Hot on the heels of Condé Nast Traveller’s mention of Taupō in “The Best Places
to Go in Oceania in 2025”, Taupō has once again received international
recognition as a tourist destination, being listed in the American Cable News
Network (CNN Travel) article “Where to go in 2025: The best places to visit”
published on New Year’s Day.

Taupō was chosen amongst the top 25 places to visit in 2025 for its “cinematic
landscapes” and culinary scene (including the novel McDonald’s in a stationary
WWII Douglas DC-3 plane), the Ngātoroirangi Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings, Huka
Falls and the luxury 101-year-old Huka Lodge (reopening in March).

The inaugural Treats of Taupō Food Festival showcasing local food and drink was
mentioned too. Treats of Taupō was supported by MBIE's Tourism Funding via the
Regional Events Promotion Fund.

CNN Travel has 123 million unique monthly visitors, and the publicity will
hopefully build the North American market.

North Americans already make up more than a third of international visitors to
Taupō, making them the largest international visitor market.

But wait - there's more!

Based on over 360 million traveller reviews, Booking.com's latest Traveller
Review Awards [link removed]
has rated the Taupō community in the top 10 of the "World's Most Welcoming
Cities on Earth for 2025"!

The Cambridge area has also hosted visitors from a cruise ship (docked in
Tauranga) who took a day trip to Maungatautari and a local dairy farm, proving
it is a viable and enjoyable option for future visitors.


LOCKY DOCKS

It’s great to see free Locky Dock [link removed] stations
for bikes being introduced across the country, including one in Taupō.

Cyclists can lock and charge their bikes while they work, eat, shop, or visit
tourist attractions. Great for personal health, great for the environment, and
great for tourism!


ORIGIN AIR TAUPŌ-WELLINGTON

Originair [link removed] will begin direct
flights (initially trialling early afternoons on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays) between Taupō and Wellington from 17 February. The service might
increase to six days per week depending on demand.


TAUPŌ SUMMER CONCERT

I enjoyed another fantastic Summer Concert, this year featuring some faves -
Icehouse, Cold Chisel, Bic Runga and Everclear. Great to catch up with old
friends and new while enjoying music in the sun!

Well done Greenstone Entertainment!



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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 11 February 2025, 8 p.m. 

Facebook@louiseupstonmp
[link removed] 

You can see the last Facebook Live here
[link removed]

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CLINICS AND FRIENDLY FORUMS

Note: Dates are subject to change, so please RSVP for Forums and contact the
office to make a Clinic appointment.


TAUPŌ CLINIC

Friday, 14 February 2025, 2:00–3:30p.m.

Please call 07 8865563 or email [email protected]
[email protected] for an appointment.


TAUPŌ FRIENDLY FORUM

Friday 28 February, 10:00–11:30a.m.

Lake Taupō Rotary Club, 12 Story Place, Taupō

RSVP to 07 8865563 or email [email protected]
[email protected]


CAMBRIDGE CLINIC

Friday, 28 February 2025, 2:30–4:00p.m.

Please call 07 827 5572 or email [email protected]
[email protected] for an appointment.


CAMBRIDGE FRIENDLY FORUM

Friday 7 March, 10:00–11:30a.m.

Cambridge Bowling Club, 37 Thornton Road, Cambridge

Please RSVP by calling 07 827 5572 or
emailing [email protected] [email protected]


SOUTH WAIKATO CLINIC

Friday, 21 March 2025, 2:00–3:30p.m.

Please call 07 8865554 or email [email protected]
[email protected] for an appointment.

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ELECTORATE ASSISTANCE

Cambridge Office:

Phone 07 8275572 or email [email protected]
[email protected]

South Waikato:

Phone 07 8865554 or email [email protected]
[email protected]

Taupō Office:

Phone 07 3765563 or email [email protected]
[email protected]

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Louise Upston
[link removed] [link removed]

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