The Electorate Boundary Review by the Representation Commission has proposed that Upper Harbour’s boundaries be adjusted to reflect our recent and projected population growth.

In fact, with a current electoral population of 75,347, Upper Harbour is 7.8% over the current quota and must lose voters. This will surprise no one given the intensification and growth we’ve seen in the likes of Hobsonville Point, where I live.

The Commission’s proposed boundary for Upper Harbour will give us 66,520 electors, putting us below the new quota for North Island general seats which is 69,875. However, the new Upper Harbour electorate is expected to again exceed any quota, meaning boundary changes will keep coming in future years and decades.

In short, it is proposed Upper Harbour expands northwards on both sides of the Greenhithe Bridge.

Over 18,000 people in Massey (including Royal Heights) will shift to a new West Auckland seat to be called Rānui. Upper Harbour is also set to lose 4,100 people in Wairau Valley who will shift to the Northcote electorate.

Upper Harbour will gain 8,600 people from Kaipara ki Mahurangi in an area north of the Upper Harbour Highway and west of State Highway 16, including Westgate and Whenuapai.

Upper Harbour will also gain 5,100 people from East Coast Bays north of the Upper Harbour Highway around Rosedale and Schnapper Rock.

As proposed, Upper Harbour will lose 32% of its existing population but gain 19%.

I am disappointed that we could lose some of our proud west and a part of Wairau Valley. However, the new areas proposed make sense. They represent ‘communities of interest’ – meaning communities we already have a relationship and synergy with.  We will have more retail and commercial and new areas planned for growth – all positive.

However, that’s just my personal view. I encourage you to have your say. The public has until 27 April to make submissions at:
https://vote.nz/boundary-review/submit/have-your-say/make-an-objection/

As always, keep me in touch with your views and what’s going on in your neighbourhood.

Cameron

Cameron hosted Youth MP candidates at the Upper Harbour Electorate office recently. Each young local resident made a speech, with three finalists then selected by three well-experienced and qualified panelists – Pat Heron, John Loau, and Linda Cooper. Panelists concluded the quality of Upper Harbour’s applicants was very impressive.

The three finalists (pictured bottom right) are Francesca-Eti Tonu’u (Mount Albert Grammar School), Harveer Talwar (Massey High School), and Yolanda Zhou Wang (Hobsonville Point Secondary School).

The Minister of Youth will announce New Zealand’s 123 Youth MPs later this month. One of the first jobs, for Upper Harbour’s Youth MP will be to chair a Youth Advisory Panel – established by Cameron to advise him on youth and local issues.

Cameron recently visited the impressive Men's Shed North Shore in Bayview with neighbouring MP for Northcote, Dan Bidois. Both enjoyed the morning with its passionate chair Jim Andrews and some very talented Men’s Shed members.

Upper Harbour's Business Club drew a crowd for outstanding Deputy Leader and Finance Minister Hon Nicola Willis at the Northern Club recently. A breakfast with Education Minister Hon Erica Stanford is the Upper Harbour Business Club’s next event on 9 May, with any enquiries to be emailed to gary@intersea.co.nz  

As Chair of the Finance & Expenditure select committee, Cameron has been busy heading up the Parliamentary Banking Inquiry. When appearing last week, the Reserve Bank announced a well-received review of its costly capital requirements on our retail banks which have ultimately cost Kiwi borrowers more.

⁠National is cutting through red tape holding New Zealand back and finally scraping the Resource Management Act, for good, ending the culture of ‘no’, so we can build the infrastructure New Zealanders need.

You can read more on: New planning laws to end the culture of ‘no’ | Beehive.govt.nz

From 1 April, more than 900,000 superannuitants and almost 5,000 veterans will receive extra as part of an annual increase in government payments - helping with the cost of living.

Overall, about 1.5 million New Zealanders will see their payments go up, including beneficiaries, students, and people getting extra support.

You can read more on: Cost of living support coming for 1.5 million New Zealanders | Beehive.govt.nz

Six more cancer treatments will be funded from 1 April, thanks to our $604 million Pharmac boost. Delivering better and faster access to cancer care has been a big focus for the Government, and we will continue to make sure Kiwis have access to timely, quality healthcare.

You can read more on: Pharmac funding decision will increase medicines access | Beehive.govt.nz

The Government is taking strong action to drive grocery prices down for Kiwi families and help ease the cost of living as New Zealand still has some of the highest grocery prices globally.

You can read more on: Going for Growth: all supermarket options on table | Beehive.govt.nz

The Government is delivering on its promise to restore real consequences for crime. Its reforms now also include:

·       Capping the sentence discounts that judges can apply at 40 percent, preventing repeat discounts for youth and remorse.

·       Responding to serious retail crime by introducing a new aggravating factor.

·       Encouraging the use of cumulative sentencing for offences committed while on bail, in custody, or on parole.

·       Implementing a sliding scale for early guilty pleas with a maximum sentence discount of 25 percent.

·       Amending the principles of sentencing to include requirement to take into account any information provided to the court about victims’ interests

Read more: Real consequences for crime restored | Beehive.govt.nz

Calling all Upper Harbour business owners!

Whether you live in the electorate or own a business in Upper Harbour, Hon Chris Penk and Cameron want to hear from you. As Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Chris is very passionate about advocating for businesses across New Zealand and is always on the lookout for real-life examples of things that are making it harder to do business and getting in the way of growth.

Chris is also the Minister for Land Information, Minister for Veterans, Associate Minister of Defence and Associate Minister of Immigration and the local MP for our neighbouring electorate, Kaipara ki Mahurangi.

Join us at the electorate office for a 'Business After 5' catch up with the Minister!

Please RSVP to: UpperHarbourOffice@parliament.govt.nz or (09) 416 3249

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