Dear John

In this issue:

• Resolutions

• Minister's News

• In the House

• Electorate News

• Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

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.

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.

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 of Taupō. For services to the community.

King’s Service Medal (KSM):

Mr Colin Terence Campbell of Taupō. For services to horse racing and governance.

Mr Grahame Roy Perry Webber 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 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 and Napier to Taupō speed limits here.

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]

‘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 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.

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 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 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 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!

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 

You can see the last Facebook Live here.

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] 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]

Cambridge Clinic

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

Please call 07 827 5572 or email [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]

South Waikato Clinic

Friday, 21 March 2025, 2:00–3:30p.m.

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

Electorate Assistance

Cambridge Office:

Phone 07 8275572 or email [email protected]

South Waikato:

Phone 07 8865554 or email [email protected]

Taupō Office:

Phone 07 3765563 or email [email protected]

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Kind regards

Louise Upston
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