Dear John 

Parliamentary News Update

It’s a new year and we’ve hit the ground running. The Prime Minister recently gave her statement in the House signalling the start of the new parliamentary year, and I had an opportunity to respond. Watch my full response here.

Where to from here for the tourism, events, accommodation and hospitality industry? 

Businesses are telling me they are struggling. I met 50 owner-operators in the tourism, events, accommodation and hospitality industry in Taupō recently to hear their concerns and suggestions. We all agree that we need to know the Government's plan to help businesses survive.  

Some of their concerns raised were:

  • Business cash flow loans are now due for repayment, but many have no income to do so
  • Regulations imposed on businesses are making it even more challenging to operate including another hike in the minimum wage
  • The reliance on Kiwis to visit is not working anymore with people being too scared to travel, or no money to spend due to the high costs of living 
  • Mandates are causing division and need to be removed. It's resulting in loss of staff from the industry that will be hard to replace
  • Immigration - bureaucratic hurdles of attracting skilled workers 

Their suggestions include:

  • Set a date for the borders to open with no isolation requirements
  • Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for all businesses, not just targeted ones. Every business and every worker is a critical one
  • Targetted support for the events industry
  • Outdoor sports events restrictions of 100 person limit to be changed  
  • Wage support and Resurgence Payments to be reinstated
  • Stop changing goalposts and open the borders of NZ 
  • Lift mandates as the population is now 95% vaccinated

Omicron Plan

With the latest Omicron outbreak gaining speed, the Government relies on people who come into close contact with positive cases to self-isolate and self-manage. They will rely on community organisations to provide welfare care, including food delivery. I am visiting social services and food banks across the electorate to hear more about their large-scale outbreak preparations and how this is working on the ground.

If you need any assistance, please do reach out to one of my electorate offices so that we can help.

National has also released its 19-point Omicron Plan to steer the country through Omicron safely. Please read it here.

Out and about

Ray and Maxine Nelson of Ignite Arts showed me around their fantastic facility. They, too have adjusted to the challenges of running a business during a pandemic. Their school bus delivers lessons to students at school where the space is and they provide everything apart from the power. As a community arts club, they have found innovative ways to continue providing their valuable service to our community. I immensely enjoyed giving the drums a go!

Youth Advisory Board Taupō  

Youth Parliament 2022 will take place in July this year. Taupō Youth MP Sophia Goodrich and I look forward to hosting our first Youth Advisory Board meeting in Tokoroa on 8 April.

Letters will be going out to schools and students who have expressed an interest in joining the Advisory Board in the coming week.

In the meantime, if you are, or know of a student who would like to join the Youth Advisory Board, please get in touch on [email protected] for more information.

Staying in touch with me

Constituent Clinics and our Friendly Forums have restarted. 

Clinics 

  • Tokoroa - Fri 25 February. Taonga Room, Tokoroa Community Link, 8-10 Torphin Crescent

Please call or email to request an appointment.

Friendly Forums

  • Cambridge - Fri 4 March. Cambridge Health and Community Centre, 22a Taylor Street. Entry is via the side to the Seminar Room
  • Taupō  - Fri 11 Mar, 10am. Rotary House 12 Story Place
  • Tokoroa - Fri 25 Mar, 10am. Te Rakaunui Room, Tokoroa Community Link , 8-10 Torphin Crescent

Facebook Live

  • Tuesday 8 March, 8pm. Join me live @louiseupstonmp 

Have a great weekend, and do stay in touch.  You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram.  

Best wishes,

Hon Louise Upston
http://louiseupston.national.org.nz/


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