Dear John In this issue:
Nuptials NewsWedded BlissMy best news! I married my long-time partner, Hamish, at a private ceremony on Saturday. It was so nice to celebrate with family and friends on such a gorgeous day! Minister's NewsVisa-Free Travel GrowthNew Zealand’s economy is already benefiting from the new visa-free pathway for Chinese and Pacific travellers with eligible Australian visas. More than 13,000 visitors have already taken the opportunity to visit, and more than 24,000 New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) requests have been approved. We expect these numbers to keep growing, adding to the roughly 240,000 visitors each year from China and the Pacific Islands. I also recently welcomed the first China Eastern Airlines flight connecting Shanghai, Auckland and Buenos Aires with twice-weekly flights. The airline already flies daily between Auckland and Shanghai. More visitors mean more bookings for accommodation, more tours, and more people dining in our restaurants and cafes – a real boost for jobs and regional economies. "If I were Prime Minister for a Day"Minami Hoffman recently won a competition with her speech "If I were Prime Minister for a Day". She said everyone deserves to live in a world that works for them, and she would use her one day in the top job to make life better and fairer for disabled people and build a kinder, more understanding and equal society – to make the world a better place. She said more thought should be given to what disabled people need in their everyday lives. Her speech focussed three examples: installing automatic doors to make public places safer and more accessible and to enable more independence; making playgrounds more interactive, inclusive and accessible so all children can enjoy playing together; and providing more funding for essential equipment like hoists to give disabled people and their carers more comfort and dignity with everyday tasks like using the bathroom or getting dressed. I invited Minami along to the Beehive for the launch of the refreshed New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030 which sets out the vision for enabling her and her peers to thrive. Special Olympic 2025 National Summer GamesI had the best day in Christchurch at the recent Special Olympics where I delivered an opening speech, one of my final ministerial engagements of 2025. Featuring 1200 athletes, 500 coaches, 42 clubs, 10 sports, and six venues over five days, these games are held every four years. This year, organisers turned on a truly outstanding experience. Meeting so many competitors and volunteers and learning more about their inspiring stories was a huge privilege. However, I do admit to cheering particularly loudly as the Waikato and Taupō flag bearers stepped up on stage! Everyone associated with this event must be so very proud of what they achieved, whether on or off the field. I certainly left feeling inspired.  Waikato athletes (L-R) Alex Johnsen (Tenpin Bowling - Teams 2nd, Pairs 4th) Courtney Duncan (Powerlifting - Squat 3rd, Bench 2nd, Deadlift 4th, Overall 3rd) and Charlotte Aroa (Equestrian - Equitation 2nd, Working Trail 2nd, Dressage 4th). |
In the HouseNew MinistryA new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) has been established to support the Government’s ambitious reform agenda in housing, transport, urban development and the environment. It will encompass the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Transport, and local government functions from the Department of Internal Affairs. It will help unlock the potential of New Zealand’s cities and regions and help boost growth and productivity by reducing duplication and complexity, and creating a simpler and more responsive public service – a one-stop-shop instead of the current fragmented and uncoordinated system. MCERT will be operational by mid-2026. RMA Reform: Two New Planning BillsA pair of Bills will replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The Planning Bill sets the framework for planning, land use, development and how communities grow. The Natural Environment Bill sets the framework for environmental limits, protection and enhancement of the natural environment. These bills were introduced to Parliament last week and will go through a full select committee process with the aim to pass them into law next year. They will deliver: Savings to ratepayers and taxpayers of $13.3 billion by cutting unnecessary regulation and giving landowners more freedom to develop their land. Between 15,000 and 22,000 fewer consents per year. Standardised zoning rules and 30-year regional spatial plans that unlock land for infrastructure and growth (including housing). Faster delivery of critical infrastructure like roads, renewable energy, hospitals and schools through national direction, fewer barriers and incentives for efficient resource use. Support for farmers and growers by removing unnecessary rules, delivering faster and more proportionate plans, and introducing national standards which provide clarity and consistency. Greater certainty for investors and developers by providing clearer consultation requirements, standardised rules and faster conflict resolution via a new Planning Tribunal.
Most live or expiring consents will come under the Resource Management (Duration of Consents) Amendment Bill during the transition period. You can find more details here and I encourage those interested to submit on the Bills. New Bills Will Boost Renewable EnergyThe new planning system will make it easier and cheaper to consent, build and maintain renewable electricity generation, as well as the distribution and transmission infrastructure required to support it. Energy powers every part of our economy, from households to high-value industries. It determines our ability to grow, compete, and remain prosperous. But it has become too difficult to consent the wind farms, solar farms, hydro schemes and geothermal projects New Zealand needs. Due to Government removing barriers to growth and investment, more electricity generation has been commissioned in the past 18 months than in the last 15 years. In the future, 95 percent of our electricity will come from cheap, clean renewables. Government’s Electrify New Zealand programme will further supercharge the sector with a wide range of actions to support faster and cheaper consenting of energy infrastructure. It will mean more wind, more solar, more batteries, more storage and more clean generation powering our homes and businesses every year. Planning Reform to Improve Housing SupplyThe RMA has been a huge contributor to our housing crisis. Multiple reports show our planning system (particularly restrictions on the supply of land for urban development) is a key factor in housing affordability. Our Going for Housing Growth programme focuses on land supply, infrastructure, and incentives for growth. Competitive urban land markets and abundant development opportunities will drive down land prices and create housing choice. Find out how to have your say via the Select Committee process here. School Maintenance Fund Increase Schools' Five-Year Agreement (5YA) funding will increase for the first time since 2009. It can be used for upgrades, modernising or replacement works on existing buildings. From July 2026, the base rate will rise by 50 per cent – from $30 per square metre to $45 per square metre and the minimum 5YA allocation for small schools will also double, from $45,000 to $90,000. More than 2,400 state and state-integrated schools have already been paid a one-off grant to help fast-track much-needed property maintenance. Local Water Done WellWhen developing their plans for Local Water Done Well, councils had the option to deliver water services in-house or as part of a separate council-controlled water organisation (CCO). In total, 44 (76 per cent) have chosen the CCO model and 23 have opted for the in-house model. The $47.9 billion total estimated investment across all plans shows a nearly $9 billion increased spend on water infrastructure over the next ten years (as compared to the estimates in their long-term plans). The costs of investment in water services will now be spread over the useful life of assets, as happens with other utilities. Around 9,000 new jobs will be created in the water industry over the next ten years – a fantastic opportunity for growing our economy. Adult Minimum Wage IncreaseThe adult minimum-wage rate will increase by 2 per cent to $23.95 per hour from 1 April 2026, helping around 122,500 minimum-wage workers keep up with the cost of living. Inflation is projected to remain relatively stable at around 2 per cent from June 2026, so this increase strikes a balance between keeping up with living costs and not adding further expense to businesses. The starting-out and training minimum wage rates will remain at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage – $19.16 per hour. Firearms SubmissionsThe Justice Select Committee has extended the submission period for the Arms Bill which will go through a six-month select committee process. More than 8,500 people made submissions on the Arms Act rewrite earlier this year, providing over 700,000 items of feedback. To ensure everyone has had a chance to have their say, the submission period has been extended until 11.59pm on Monday 16 February 2026. You can make submissions on the Arms Bill here. Passport RenewalIt has been 10 years since passports were required to be renewed every decade (instead of 5 yearly). Over 1.3 million passports expire in the next two years. While passport processing times have fallen from 25 days in 2023 to 3 days in 2025, this might be made difficult if many people apply for renewals at once. To avoid hassles, go online to renew your passport allowing plenty of time before your travel date.
Electorate NewsWaikato Medical SchoolIt was great to attend the sod turning for the new Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Waikato a fortnight ago. I have been pushing for this for over a decade, so it is great to see it come to fruition. From 2028, the Waikato medical school will train an additional 120 doctors each year, on top of the 100 extra places being added at Otago and Auckland Universities between 2024 and 2026. A key priority for this school is getting more doctors into the regions. It will be funded by $82.85 million of Government funding and more than $150 million from the University and philanthropic partners. The university has already begun advertising for staff. Love Taupō AwardsCongratulations to Huka Honey Hive (Guardians of the Environment Award), Rapids Jet (Legacy in Action Award), Whakapapa Holdings 2024 (Evolution Award) and Michelle Frost, Tauhara North No. 2 Trust (Collaboration Award) who were recognised at the recent Love Taupō End-of-Year Awards ceremony. It is great to be acknowledged for the work you do to make Taupō a world-renowned visitor destination. Destination Great Lake Taupō is already reporting an uptick in tourist numbers and a promising start to the summer tourism season. Blue SpringsNZTA Waka Kotahi is reminding people who visit the Blue Springs and Te Waihou Walkway near Putāruru that parking on the state highway is illegal in places, including signed no-parking zones, no-stopping lines, or where your vehicle could block access of other road users or pedestrians. On the walkway, stay on marked paths and follow all signage for your safety and to protect the environment. And please remove all rubbish. Swim SafelySurf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) has more than 4,600 lifeguards who do an incredible job patrolling the surf at 92 locations during summer. In the 2024/25 year, they saved 624 lives. Visit SLSNZ's website for some great tips on preventing drowning this summer. To find out about water quality at popular swimming spots at rivers, lakes and beaches and whether they are safe to swim at, Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) updates its data regularly here. Waka Ama Sprint Nationals KarāpiroThousands of paddlers and spectators will be attending the Waka Ama 2026 Sprint Nationals 11–17 January at Karāpiro. I wish competitors the best of luck. Yellow-legged HornetsYellow-legged hornets are an exotic pest species which are a threat to our honey industry. They feed on bees, wasps, flies, ripe fruit and nectar, making them also a risk to growers and native insects and birds.  Photo: Buckeye Yard & Garden onLine (Ohio State University) https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2321 |
 1. Yellow-legged hornet 2. German wasp 3. Asian paper wasp 4. Australian paper wasp |
They have been discovered on the North Shore. If you spot them, please report your sightings to Biosecurity New Zealand here. A photo would be useful to confirm it is the correct species, and a precise location would be helpful too. SH1 Motutere Speed Limit ReversalI pushed for a second round of consultation to be undertaken around the SH1 speed limit at Motutere (south of Taupō). Feedback from the community has been heard. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has considered 751 public submissions, 91 per cent of which supported speed reduction. The speed limit will now revert to 60km/hr for approximately 425meither side of the Motutere Holiday Park entrance. New signage should already be in place. Other NZTA ConsultationsNZTA will be consulting on other speed-related proposals in January. This includes an Intersection Speed Zone (ISZ) at the intersection of SH5 and SH28 (Whites Road, Putāruru). NZTA is also investigating a SH1/Karāpiro Road ISZ as an interim safety improvement until construction of the expressway is funded and underway. RoadworksNow is a good time to check your warrants of fitness and insurances are up to date before you head off for summer. Caravans and boat trailers have been a common sight in queues at testing stations and garages in recent weeks. Roadworks continue as the summer weather permits. For updates about what's happening in your area, sign up to NZTA's newsletter here. If you are planning a trip, check out NZTA's Journey Planner to find where likely delays will occur. Being prepared with some drinks and snacks and simple games for the kids, and not feeling stressed by unexpected delays, could be a life saver – literally! Cambridge Christmas FestivalEach year the Cambridge Christmas Festival decks the Town Hall with decorations they have been creating for months. Who would have thought to decorate a tree with paint palettes, carrots, watering cans and wheelbarrows, for example? There are decorations to suit everyone, and as you can see, the result is spectacular! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!This is my final newsletter for 2025. I am looking forward to taking a break to re-energise for what will be a busy 2026. I would like to wish you all a happy and safe summer break doing the things you love with the people you love. Attending Events If you are organising an event in the New Year 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 February 2026 at 8 p.m. and type your questions or comments. You can watch the last Facebook Live here.
Christmas and January Office Hours and Electorate AssistanceTaupōThe Taupō office will close from the 25 December until 19 January. However, for urgent constituent queries, please call 07 376 5563 or email [email protected] South WaikatoPlease call 07 886 5554 or email [email protected] CambridgeThe Cambridge office will close from the 25 December until 8 January. It will close again from 19 January until 2 February. For urgent constituent queries, please call 07 827 5572 or email [email protected]
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Kind regards Louise Upston
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