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Dear John In this issue:
Minister's NewsBudget 2025The big news this month was Budget 2025. It is all about lifting economic growth to create jobs, lift wages, and help you deal with the cost of living. It's also about generating more income for Government to spend on essential services like health, education, law and order and defence.
It was great to catch up with some of you and answer your questions at the series of post-Budget meetings I attended across the electorate this week. The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce organised a well-attended breakfast meeting (pictured above). You should have received an email about the Budget from me earlier this week. If you would like to learn more, click here. There are definite signs our economy is improving and heading for our target of doubling the value of exports in 10 years. For example, March hit a record $1.26 billion in export sales of red meat – a 34 per cent increase on March last year. Exports for the first quarter also reached $3.28 billion, up 28 per cent from last year. This not only benefits farmers, processors, and rural communities, but has flow-on effects across the whole of New Zealand. TRENZ
At the beginning of May, I attended TRENZ in Rotorua with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. TRENZ, run by Tourism Industry Aotearoa, is the largest event on New Zealand's tourism calendar. Around 1200 delegates from around the world attended the three-day event this year. TRENZ is like speed dating for sellers (New Zealand tourism operators) and buyers in the travel industry. They attend short appointments during which they raise awareness of tourism products and conduct business. Over 320 buyers from 25 countries connected with our local tourism businesses and organisations. Tourism is our second-largest export and one we're focussed on growing to increase our standard of living.
It was great to meet many key tourism business owners and staff, including catching up with some from the Taupō electorate like Destination Great Lake Taupō and Orakei Korako (the geothermal park and cave). Tourism contributes $44 billion to the economy and supports almost 200,000 jobs nationwide, including many across the electorate:
Supercars Extends to ChristchurchThe 2025 ITM Taupō Super 440 was a blast, so last week, I was delighted to announce that the hugely successful Repco Supercars Championship will also be held at Euromarque Motorsport Park (Ruapuna) in Christchurch in 2026. Fans can now attend back-to-back rounds across consecutive weekends in both Taupō and Christchurch. More than 3,300 international visitors attended the 2024 Taupō event and spent more than $5.2 million while here, not to mention the invaluable exposure of New Zealand to key tourism markets with a total broadcast reach of 246 million viewers, including 3.9 million in Australia. These events generate significant economic and tourism benefits for the regions and New Zealand. Government is investing $5.9 million from the Major Events Fund to support Supercars events in both Taupō and Christchurch for the next three years. Regional Events Promotion FundI'm also delighted that both Fieldays and the 2026 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Karapiro in January are recipients in this year's contestable round of Regional Events Promotion Fund (REPF) funding. The fund aims to disperse visitors to the regions, particularly in the off-season. Increased Jobseeker SanctionsOur welfare system is proactively supporting those who can work to get off a benefit and into employment. On Monday, the second phase of our Government's Traffic Light System came into force with the introduction of Money Management or Community Work Experience sanctions for those who have dependent children or a 'dedicated case manager' and fail to comply with the obligations they agreed to. Instead of reducing the benefit by 50 per cent when Jobseekers fail to meet their obligations without good reason, Money Management means that, for four weeks, half of a beneficiary's income will be loaded onto a payment card to be used at approved stores for groceries, health needs, transport and education needs. Or, they will be required to find and complete at least five hours of Community Work Experience each week, for four weeks. This will only apply to the just over one per cent of beneficiaries who are currently not meeting their obligations. Our economy is stronger when more people are in work, and as we look to unleash economic growth, it’s important that as many Kiwis as possible share in the benefits of employment. Care for DisabledBudget 25 increased funding for Disability Support Services (DSS) by another $1 billion. DSS provides essential services and supports to more than 52,000 disabled people. About half of the DSS operating budget is allocated to residential care. Beginning 1 July, a $240 million funding boost over four years will provide improved residential care for around 7200 disabled New Zealanders in 89 residential facilities across the country. We are stabilising the disability support system to make it consistent, transparent, sustainable and fair. The new funding model is nationally consistent while recognising regional variations in costs such as housing prices, and will include more flexibility. Importantly, the new model enables DSS to forecast expenditure which will help Government make informed budget decisions in future. New Zealand Sign Language BreakfastI enjoyed catching up with members of the Deaf community in Parliament and practising New Zealand Sign Language this month. Over 20,000 New Zealanders use sign language. The more people that can communicate in sign language, the more our Deaf community is included. I encourage you to give it a go. There are lots of places you can learn. Check out Learn NZSL for starters.
COMAVOL TaupōAs Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector, I'm delighted to note that the second COMAVOL Community and Volunteer Expo is on 7 June, 10a.m.–2p.m. at the Great Lake Centre. The expo is a fantastic opportunity to connect volunteers with opportunities. Volunteers contribute the equivalent of billions of dollars in work for our communities, and the world is a much better place because of them. You can nominate volunteers for the TREMAINS® Volunteer Service Awards here. In the HouseBudget UrgencyThe Budget usually means a session of urgency to progress legislation and ensure Budget measures are enacted. The highlight was passing the Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill which enables Investment Boost. The 'C Word' and Pay EquityIt was disappointing to see a media outlet using the 'c word' to refer to myself and female Ministers in Parliament this month. Governments on both sides of the political spectrum will make decisions that are unpopular with some. I am a proponent of playing the ball, not the player, and this kind of attack is uncalled for. Pay equity is about all people getting paid the same for work that might be different, but is of equal value. Since the Labour Government passed the amendment to the Equal Pay Act in 2020 that broadened its scope, pay equity claims have included a wide range of issues that had nothing to do with sex-based discrimination. Other processes are available to address issues of pay and conditions such as annual bargaining rounds. The scope of the pay equity legislation needed to be returned to sex-based discrimination, and comparators need to be relevant to the sector and compare like with like. Pay equity claims are still funded within Budget 2025. Have Your Say – RMAThe Government has opened public consultation on a package of changes to national direction under the Resource Management Act. You can 'Have Your Say' on a range of issues including:
Public consultation will be open until 27 July 2025. Electorate NewsEmergency HealthThis National-led Government is investing more in health than ever before, with a record $16.68 billion across three Budgets to improve health outcomes for New Zealanders. Everyone should have access to urgent and after-hours healthcare, so we've invested $164 million over four years to expand it across the country. In the Midland region, extended after-hours services have been identified for Taupō and Tokoroa, with new weekend services to improve access to urgent care seven days a week. Improved urgent and after-hours healthcare is also on the way for rural and remote communities, with services identified for Mangakino and Tūrangi. These services include 24/7 on-call in-person clinical support and better access to tests and checks and urgent medicines. The new and improved services will be introduced over the next two years, alongside continued support for existing providers and targeted improvements to rural access. Bowel Cancer PetitionI was pleased to introduce Cambridge Resident Jackie Robertson to Minister of Health Hon Simeon Brown as she presented her petition to Parliament calling for Government to lower the bowel screening age to 45. Bowel cancer is too common in New Zealand and it's inexplicably increasing for younger people worldwide. My family has been affected by it.
Meeting with constituents and supporting their advocacy on important issues is part of my role as an MP. Boom BoomIt was a perfect afternoon to attend the unveiling of the renowned Kiwi sculptor Gregor Kregar’s mirror-finish stainless-steel dinosaur called Boom Boom! The sauropod looks fabulous on the corten steel 'volcanic rock'. Love it or hate it, Boom Boom has already generated priceless overseas publicity from the BBC in an article describing Taupō as the "scenic centre" of the North Island and referencing Taupo being named as "New Zealand's most beautiful town in the 2023 Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards".
It's great to see the imaginative ways Boom Boom is appearing in social media posts too! It's the thirteenth sculpture commissioned by the Taupō Sculpture Trust, but the first to be installed on the Riverside Park walkway. The trust is hoping to add two more sculptures to the dedicated sculpture park each year for the next decade, adding some fun and cultural interest for locals and an attraction for visitors. South Waikato Future Careers ExpoThe South Waikato Future Careers Expo is a great place to get ideas and contacts if you're looking for your first or next career move. It's on Monday 16 June from 9:00–2:30p.m. at Pukenga Rau, the South Waikato Trades Training Centre, 34 Chambers Street, Tokoroa. Tokoroa Central School VisitIt's always useful to visit schools and catch up with principals and teachers about how they're finding the changes our Government has introduced – like spending an hour each on reading, writing and maths every school day, introducing financial literacy to the curriculum, banning cell phones in schools, and raising student attendance rates. As an MP, it is also my job to represent our children, so it's great to check in with them as well. The children at Tokoroa Central School were a delight! One class was very excited about giving their mums the plants they'd grown for Mother's Day. Teachers do a fantastic job of incorporating fun ways to teach life skills alongside the core curriculum. Youth Advisory BoardSenior high school students from across the electorate are invited to attend my second Youth Advisory Board in Tokoroa on 13 June. Different material will be covered in this session than was covered at the beginning of April. The YAB is an opportunity for students to learn about New Zealand’s parliamentary system and democracy. It is also a chance for me to gauge students’ views on current affairs so I can accurately represent them in Parliament. Youth MP Ryder Miller will lead some of the agenda items next time. Schools have been sent information and will be advising students of details. If you need further information, please get in touch with one of my offices (details below). Electorate TourismIt's said that what's good for locals is also good for tourists, so why not take a staycation this winter? Destination Great Lake Taupō (DGLT) and Town Centre Taupō's 'Welcome' campaign shows there's something for everyone in this region – internationally renowned for its hospitality. There is also the 10th Taupō Winter Festival (27 June–13 July) which always includes a wide range of fun events. Repair Café TaupōVolunteers will be helping out at the Repair Café in Taupō (28 June, Venture Centre, 250 Spa Road, 10a.m.–1p.m.). These clever people will help you repair clothing, bicycles, toys or small furniture items (for example). This free service is all about reducing waste. You can register for a preferred time, or just turn up. Rural Assistance PaymentsFarmers whose incomes have been severely affected by drought can apply for Rural Assistance Payments (until 28 October 2025) to help with essential living costs. Apply through the Ministry of Social Development (0800 559 009) or your local Rural Support Trust. Waipa AwardsCongratulations to the deserving 2025 Waipā Networks Business Awards winners in the Taupō electorate:
It was great to visit some of them to offer my congratulations in person.
Mooving Day and FieldaysAs Sunday is officially Mooving Day, and it falls in the middle of a long weekend, please be patient on the roads. Preparation for Fieldays (11–14 June) is also underway with lots of interesting loads being trucked across the electorate. Again, please be patient in the lead up to, and during, the event. SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Roadworks FeedbackNew Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is seeking feedback on its communications around the SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project. You can fill out a 10-minute survey here. You can subscribe to NZTA Waka Kotahi updates here. Attending EventsIf you are organising an event that you would like me to attend, please contact my office well in advance (details below). My calendar fills up quickly! Upcoming Engagement OpportunitiesFacebook LiveYou can join me online to discuss the issues that currently concern you on the second Tuesday of each month. To join my next live chat, head to Louise Upston MP | Facebook on Tuesday 10 June 2025 at 8 p.m. and type your questions or comments. You can watch the last Facebook Live here. Clinics and Friendly ForumsNote: Dates are subject to change. Cambridge Friendly ForumFriday, 27 June, 10:00–11:30p.m. Cambridge Bowling Club, 37 Thornton Road Please call 07 827 5572 or email [email protected] to RSVP. Taupō Friendly ForumFriday, 18 July, 10:00–11:30p.m. Lake Taupō Rotary, 12 Story Place Taupō ClinicFriday, 18 July, 2:00–3:30p.m. Please call 07 3765563 or email [email protected] for an appointment. Electorate AssistanceCambridge 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] Please share the news!Please forward this email to friends and family who might like to stay in touch and connected with the community. If you received this from a friend or family member and you would like to subscribe to future newsletters, please click here and fill out the ‘Get Updates’ form at the bottom of my webpage. We believe that email is one of the best ways to stay in touch with our community, but you can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Kind regards Louise Upston Funded by Parliamentary Service |
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