Happy Matariki!

Happy Matariki! I hope you’re having a relaxing long week with your family and friends, or heading out to support our local businesses that will remain open.

It’s tough out there. I know many families are finding it difficult to make ends meet, especially with still-high mortgage rates. This month, I’ve been visiting some of our local shops in Glen Innes, Mission Bay, Meadowbank and Remuera and the message has been the same, fewer clients walking in and revenue is down. It’s a sensible reaction to a cost-of-living crisis.

If you do have the ability to support our local community businesses, please consider shopping local. I take my hat off to Kiwis who start a small business to support their families and employ other Kiwis. Last week, I caught up with Sherwan, owner at Royal Barber on Remuera Rd. One of the greatest parts of being your local MP is hearing from you directly and taking your concerns to Wellington.

We had the great pleasure of welcoming economist and CEO of Infometrics, Brad Olsen, to Tāmaki to hear his take on the New Zealand economy. Thanks to all the locals who gave up a Friday night to pack out the Sacred Heart College Theatre. Brad gave awesome insights, such as that New Zealand is using capital at a rate lower than in 1996. This means our productivity is very poor as a nation - one reason I'm very pleased ACT in Government is working to reduce the regulations that are holding us back as a nation to increase productivity. With better productivity we'll have a stronger economy and better standard of living.

I spent time in Kohimarama this month meeting locals at our Street Corner Meetings and at the Mission Bay/ Kohimarama Residents Association Meeting. Concerns in the community vary from the economy through to speed bumps (they are a hassle!) and local infrastructure. I’ll continue to be out there to hear what’s on your mind.

This month’s highlight was spending time at BestStart in Meadowbank. While I was there to talk with the management team and teachers, it didn’t take long for the children to whisk me away to see their drawings of mermaids, play “soccer” and be offered a few cups of “coffee” made with sand.

This month, I made two large announcements as Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety to help businesses and workers in our economy. Firstly, changes are coming to the Holidays Act to ensure that the law is simple to implement so workers can be paid correctly, and businesses spend less time on attempting to get it right, and more time on productive work. Secondly, the Government will progress with Health and Safety law reform. We want workers to return home safely. We also want business owners to have more clarity on what they need to do to comply and ensuring the rules lead to better outcomes, not simply tick-box exercises.

In short, there’s a lot on! It’s good to be busy in Tāmaki and in Government. See you out there!

Simon


Brooke van Velden
ACT Deputy Leader | MP for Tāmaki