Brewer's Banter

2024 is already flying by and it gives me great pleasure to introduce myself as your new chair, following the retirement of Leigh Morrow. Despite her protests, we gave Leigh a good send off at our AGM in February. She has done so much work for the electorate since its inception over 10 years ago and was key to returning Upper Harbour blue last year. We wish Leigh all the best and know we’ll continue to see her locally, and her work for the party continues.

Jan and I have lived in the Upper Harbour electorate for many years. Prior to downsizing to Hobsonville Point, we were in Greenhithe, and for all my faults I was chair of the Helensville electorate when Sir John Key was MP and PM.

It’s an exciting time for the Upper Harbour electorate as we’ve resoundingly won back the seat for National - both with the Electorate Vote and Party Vote.

The electorate committee is energised and focused on ensuring we build a strong presence and reputation in the electorate.

We will continue to grow our SuperBlues gatherings, and an invitation to join our Business Club is currently open. It’s also time to renew your subscription if you haven’t already, with membership being key to our ongoing success.

We welcome your ideas and appreciate your ongoing support.

Stephen

Firstly, thank you again for all you did in helping us win back Upper Harbour in October.

An 11,000-plus majority was an amazing result. The victory belongs to so many locals who supported us through their membership, attended our events, volunteered during the campaign, and encouraged the team and I to keep going!

I would love to see you at our official office opening in Hobsonville, but if you can’t make it that evening, please pop in and see us another time.

I’m proud to say Alexia Mesnage is our Office Manager and Senior Adviser after she spent several years working in Erica Stanford’s Brown’s Bay office. We also have a well-known local doing community and council liaison part-time for us, former councillor and my former council bench-mate, Linda Cooper, no less.

The best email to contact the office on is upperharbouroffice@parliament.govt.nz and our landline is (09) 416-3249.

It has been whirlwind in Wellington with the Coalition Government legislating day and night to deliver its 100-day plan. There are 22 additional MPs for National, representing our largest intake since 1990. I’m really enjoying the many perspectives, lived experiences, and strong contributions everyone is making.

I was appointed the Government lead and Deputy Chair of the Governance & Administration select committee and I’m a member of the Justice select committee. I am working closely with our all-blue North Shore caucus, with one of the battles currently being the future of the North Harbour Stadium – I welcome your feedback on that matter.

Locally, I’ve been advertising and hosting constituent clinics around the electorate and continue to meet key stakeholders including school principals, local businesses, and residents’ associations. I’ve also been made the buddy MP for Te Atatu.

Please keep me in touch with local events and activities. More importantly, I value your free and frank advice on all things locally and nationally.

Cameron

PS: To view my Maiden Speech from 30 January, visit: https://vimeo.com/907697707

PPS: The North West is a big winner in the just released Draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Priority projects include the North West Rapid Transit Corridor (dedicated busway up SH16) and the North West Alternative State Highway (Kumeu bypass). Please submit on these projects at www.transport.govt.nz by 2 April.

This is a community event with the details below. As a highly valued local member, we’d love to see you and show you our new office!