This month: updates on our roads from speed increases to Ō2NL design changes,
and a special invite.
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Hi John, here’s your June update.

See below for an update on 110km/hr on TG, boy racers, design changes to Ō2NL,
and a special event for our South African community.


THE BUDGET UP FRONT

Before I get to the monthly update I do want to cover a few big highlights in
the budget that was released May 22nd:

* An extended after-hours medical service for Horowhenua

* A health shuttle trial for Kāpiti (I covered this last month)

* Two million extra teacher aid hours for schools across New Zealand (this is
the biggest issue I hear about in every local school I visit)

* Investment Boost (see below)

* And I do like that we're incentivising 16 and 17 year olds to join Kiwisaver
by letting them access the Government contribution. That value of saving (not
just spending) is so important.


ALSO THIS MONTH:

* What's happening on our roads?

* A special South African evening

* Hosting Minister Nicola Willis

* Local events

* In the news - Investment Boost

* Upcoming events



First up, I have to acknowledge what’s happening on our roads. Three key areas.


110KM/HR ON TG?

This month Transport Minister Chris Bishop and I announced
[link removed] that we are consulting on
increasing the speed limit on SH1 Transmission Gully and Raumati Straights to
110km/hr.

TG has brought huge growth to our region, with significant benefits including
increased connectivity for families and productivity for local businesses. It’s
a world-class safe road that has never had a fatality. Have your say on the
speed change here. [link removed]


BOY RACERS IN LEVIN

Some of you will have seen the update I wrote
[link removed]
on a recent boy racer event in Levin. I drove up to Levin that weekend to join
the Police Minister (Hon Mark Mitchell) and the Police Commissioner (Richard
Chambers) the next day. We spent time with Horowhenua Police thanking them and
seeing their strong response to end a dangerous, unwanted and idiotic activity.

I had been working with Police and drafted a Member’s Bill to support the Police
response, and this has now been incorporated in our new Government law change to
really crack down on both the drivers and the spectators. The new laws
strengthen penalties for anti-social road users; anyone involved in illegal
street racing, fleeing from Police, or taking part in intimidating convoys will
face harsh consequences, including the forfeiture or destruction of their
vehicle after only one offence.

Read more about the changes here.
[link removed]


Ō2NL

Finally on roads, I’ve been really active over the last couple of months
fighting for improvements to the final design for the new Ō2NL Expressway.
[link removed]
NZTA proposed a number of changes to the design, and while I support the need to
stick to both a budget and a timeline, and I support a number of the changes
proposed, there are also some that concern me. These include the removal of the
Tararua Road Interchange, the southbound on-ramp at Taylor’s Road, and the
over-bridge at Manakau Heights Drive.

The next step is that NZTA take their proposal to the Board and the Board make
the final decision (not an MP or Minister). So I’ve worked hard collecting and
collating local submissions, and working hard to demonstrate the strong local
support for the best possible road. This is all about working hard as an MP to
gain influence and shape the outcome we want as a community.

I’ve sent my final plea to NZTA in time for their final submission to the Board
for approval, and I’m really hopeful that my work and all of your support will
achieve us getting the best possible result we can from here, and an improvement
on what was previously announced as the final design.


CALLING OUR SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNITY



Kom geniet saam met ons.

I love engaging with every community and ethnic group in our region. This event
is especially for our amazing local South African ex-pats. I'd love to invite
everyone from that group to join me at the South African Pantry on Rimu Road in
Paraparaumu, Thursday July 3rd, 5.30-7pm. No cost and light refreshments
provided.


HOSTING NICOLA WILLIS

As part of a busy month (see below) it was fantastic having our Finance
Minister, Hon Nicola Willis, in our region to speak about this year's budget,
and to get a better understanding of our local Going For Growth story.

We attended the Electra Business Breakfast where Nicola was keynote speaker for
a crowd of 200; next was the Kāpiti Coast council's Going For Growth summit with
key council, iwi, business and community leaders; we visited the Ōtaki Memorial
Hall to meet children from the Ōtaki Kid's Market (they are amazing!); we
visited the new Waikanae Coastguard shed, the construction of the new Waikanae
Boat Club, and spoke to a group of over-60s.



I'm always proud to bring Ministers and MPs to our region, with other visiting
Ministers over the last month including Hon Simon Watts and Hon Scott Simpson,
attending a range of events across Horowhenua, Kāpiti and Whitby/Plimmerton.
This is my favourite part of NZ and I'm proud to represent it and show it off to
others.


LOCAL EVENTS

It’s been another chocka-block month with over 40 local events and visits to
community organisations, including Porirua Whanāu Centre, Porirua (Wellington)
Free ambulance, Kāpiti Youth Support, Paremata local businesses event, Raumati
Homes4All, Kāpiti Health Centre, Levin Police Station, Kāpiti Economic Growth
and Investment summit, He Tangata Housing village, Antipodes Audio Ōtaki,
Electra Business Breakfast, the new Levin Health Hub site, Vets on Riverbank,
the opening of the Waikanae Coastguard Shed, Horowhenua District Ratepayers
Association Public Meeting and Charles Fleming Retirement Village – to name just
a few.  

I also ran Youth Advisory Panels at Paraparaumu, Waiopehu and Horowhenua
colleges alongside my Youth MP, Aroa. I took part in the Mary Potter Hospice
Street Appeal and hosted three Ministers above, all around my usual time in
Parliament three to four days per week, and visited other electorates to
pay-back those who visit our region.




IN THE NEWS

Budget 2025 – A “no BS” Budget

There has been a lot of talk about the Budget this year, including over $7.5bn
in new health funding initiatives, $2.5bn for education, more local GP
appointments, expanded after-hours medical, 2 million extra teacher aid hours in
our classrooms (which is HUGE compared to where we are now). One Levin Doctor
told me that our change to prescription rules (you can now get 12 months, not
just 90 days) means that he can see 15 extra patients per week and it will
"dramatically shorten" wait times for your local GP.

But I want to highlight one really popular policy I’ve heard lots of feedback
on:
[link removed]
Boost
[link removed]
Investment Boost means that any business, any tradie, any farmer can claim an
immediate 20 per cent deduction on the cost of a new asset from their taxable
income, on top of normal depreciation. I’ve already heard examples of new
tractors, new tools, new industrial equipment and more being purchased, which
all pumps money into the local economy. One farmer said he bought three tractors
the next day directly because of this policy. That's good for the farmer, the
retailer, and all those local businesses that the money flows to.

This all sits against a backdrop of a Government focused on reducing inflation
and interest rates, so that (along with policies like Investment Boost) we
accelerate growth in our economy. The reason is simple: helping businesses to
succeed is the route to more jobs, higher incomes and better public services. 

Delivering for Kiwi families remains my top focus, and that of our National-led
Government.

Read more about Budget 2025: [link removed]
[link removed]

A few helpful links to find out more:

18/19-year-olds who don’t study or work
[link removed]

Nicola Willis on Investment Boost [link removed]

Christopher Luxon on Investment Boost 
[link removed] 

What we're focussed on [link removed]

Nicola Willis OCR announcement [link removed]




UPCOMING EVENTS

Still plenty to join in at:

* July

* 3 - South African event, Paraparaumu

* 14 - Super Blues (over 60s) event in Levin, with Suze Redmayne, MP for
Rangitikei, 1030 at the Horowhenua Vintage Car Club, Tiro Tiro Road, $10.

* 26 - Annual Day at the races, Ōtaki Maori Racing Club

* August

* 1-3 - National conference, Christchurch

* 15 - Annual soup and buns lunch, Waikanae

* Special under 60s drinks fundraiser

* September

* 20 - Levin dessert evening

* October

* 6 - Quiz night, Kāpiti 

* Special dinner club fundraiser

* November

* 7 - Super blues morning tea

* 23 - LNI Christmas lunch, Palmerston North

* 29 - Levin Christmas lunch

* Special under 60s drinks fundraiser

* December

* 6 - Kāpiti Food Fair - join us at our stall

That's it for this month.

Best wishes,




[link removed]

www.national.org.nz [link removed]

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