While the kids are out hitting the streets dressed as ghouls and skeletons for Halloween, I’ve been out pounding the pavement too, although with fewer spiders and cobwebs, and more pink to be seen. I’ve been out visiting our local shop owners in Mission Bay, Eastridge, and Glen Innes. I love being your local MP and bumping into people while doing these visits, as well as learning more about the people who keep the lights on at our local shops, like Sean at the Mission Bay Tap Room, Dino at the Seafood Collective and Shkelzen at Oak Barrel Wine House (pictured). Thanks for getting up each day and giving it a go! I’m sure the whole community backs those efforts. 

One exciting new addition this month has been the new Westpac Bank Branch opening at the Eastridge Shopping Centre. I had a good chat with the new branch manager Shane and team, and I’m sure they’ll be quickly welcomed into the neighbourhood by those who use their services. Eastridge is celebrating 30 years with a special market this weekend, November 1-2. Be sure to say hello to Shane and the team while you’re there!

This month, I welcomed Paula Bennett to Tāmaki. Paula kindly accepted the offer to speak at one of my community meetings about the work she does chairing Pharmac and about medicines access in general. I have met with constituents who’ve needed new medicines for their children with rare disorders, or to manage their diabetes. I think we all learnt a lot about how Pharmac operates at a national level.

If you came along and still had further questions, you’re welcome to send those through and we’ll coordinate a response. At the meeting we also bid farewell to outgoing Ōrākei board member Penny Tucker, who also has passion for medicines access. Thanks for your service to the community, Penny, and see you around the electorate. 

I’ve been busy attending awards ceremonies recently for the EMA 2025 Best Places to Work Awards and the National Pacific Business Awards. It is fantastic to see the range of Kiwi businesses being rewarded for their ideas, innovation and drive. I take my hat off to all those in attendance for having ideas and running with them. It was also a pleasure to be asked to speak at the Women in Leadership Summit and discuss life in the fast-lane with business leaders and aspiring future-leaders.

At our previous community meeting on intensification, my office promised we’d keep locals updated on the plans for our area and how you can have your voice heard. From 3 November, this website will be updated with the latest information on Plan Change 120, and ways for you to submit online and in person, and the Council has provided this pdf with further information for us to share. If you can’t find what you’re looking for feel free to get in touch with my office at [email protected].

As always, it's a pleasure serving the community. See you out there!