I want to keep this month’s update a bit briefer, so here are the key points.  Why vote for National Firstly, it’s only three months until voting is open. If you want National to get three more years in Government to bed-in the changes we’ve made, then we need your support. If you want to see three more years with structured reading and maths, three years with improving health wait times and more local health services, three more years with less crime, and three more years with wages going up and things like food inflation coming down, then we need your support. Why vote for me If you support me and think I’ve done a good job as our local MP, and if you want me back for the next three years, then I need some help to make that a reality. We’ve made great local progress, from roads like the expressway to Levin and new electric trains under construction, to the Kapiti cancer clinic being funded and set-up and extra learning support staff and property funding in Kapiti (incl Mana) schools. I’ve had the privilege of helping local families, working with them to deliver meaningful results in health, housing, immigration, social support and more. I want to keep serving you but I need your support to do this. How you can help Firstly, I need you to vote for National and for me on November 7th. Secondly, I’d value your help between now and then. Have a small sign on your fence for September and OctoberHelp me at a local market or event Deliver some flyers or make a few phone calls or knock on doors.If you can do one thing to help, please let me know directly or fill in this form: Click here to help out. Join us at three special local events — including the PM, Erica Stanford I would love to invite you to join Erica Stanford and me at our local campaign launch, then please come along. 2pm, Sunday August 16th, Raumati Beach Bowls Club No cost, but we will accept koha/donations at the door towards campaign signs. Afternoon tea provided. I would love to see a big crowd along supporting us. Our last event (pre-campaign dinner) had over 150, but this is our opportunity to demonstrate just how much support there is for us in Kapiti. Please come and join us. My regular seniors’ morning tea will be on Friday August 7th with Sam Uffindel, MP for Tauranga. 10am, Friday August 7th Whitby Bowling Club $10 each, morning tea provided.Come along with some questions, and bring a friend. On Wednesday August 26th I’m hosting the Prime Minister for a Public Meeting. Come and join us. 7pm, Wednesday August 26th Connect Church Auditorium Realm Dr, Paraparaumu No charge, but you will need to sign in on arrival Firefighter update You might have seen we held our final hearing on Monday for the FENZ Fleet Inquiry which I’ve been running. You can watch some highlights on my Facebook or Instagram.  The big takeaways from this were: The FENZ Board don’t have a record of asking any questions about the delayed and defective Fire Appliances (fire engines) at any stage in 2024, or at any stage in 2025! What have they been doing?! FENZ ordered the latest 28 Fire Appliances before they had tested one prototype or even received the second. There are currently none of the latest 30 Appliances in use (the initial order was placed in 2019!). 12 of these haven’t been accepted by FENZ even though they’re in New Zealand, but they weren’t willing to say why. The Aerial Appliances (trucks with big ladders on top) are also delayed. They had final inspections done 12 months ago but something is going on in the background which FENZ weren’t willing to talk about. Is it mechanical? Is it commercial? Is it because FENZ shifted the goalposts and changed design requirements? I’m left with more questions, but I’m continuing to fight for answers. Once I get my final questions answered we will write our report and I will be making recommendations about what comes next. Understanding the problem is one challenge; fixing the situation is another. As long as I’m an MP I won’t let up. Our plan to fix the basics and build the futureHere’s what we’ve shared so far (click each title for more info): Home energy fund. National will help Kiwis to reduce their power bills by supporting them to electrify their own homes, farms, and small businesses. It’s good to see Labour and other parties copying part of our plan but you need to Vote National to be sure it will happen.  Kiwisaver. We will lift KiwiSaver contributions to 12% by 2032, matching Australia’s rate, ensuring Kiwis have financial security in retirement.  Tougher sentences for sexual offending. National will abolish good character assessments at sentencing for all sexual offending,  Next one billion customers. National has a plan to connect New Zealand businesses with nearly one billion potential new customers around the world.  Building our future. National will make it easier to build shops, offices and other commercial buildings by removing unnecessary delays and costs in the building consent system.  Modernising consent. National will modernise sexual consent laws to specify there must always be a “yes,” rather than an absence of a “no.” 10 reasons why Here are ten local things I’m proud of (or click for the video): * The new breast cancer clinic we opened in Waikanae, with expanded free access up to 74 years * The new cancer clinic coming to Kapiti so local patients can get treatment closer to home * The new expressway to Levin already under construction * New electric trains coming for Ōtaki, multiple times each day, including weekends * A 50% increase for school property funding, and six new classrooms at Paraparaumu College  * Learning support coordinators for every primary school * Structured learning is improving results for our children * Funding for Ōtaki River cliff protection * Extra funding for the Kapiti health shuttle * Fast-track legislation to support almost 7,000 new homes across the region, and a reservoir and wastewater in Pukerua Bay. That’s it for this month.

We know some readers get annoyed by pro-National Party messages, and most of our editorial group actually gave our party votes to ACT in 2023, although we all voted for Tim as local MP and will do so again (sorry Sophie, but you’ll get into parliament on the Labour list). We’ll look at the NZ First and ACT platforms, also the libertarian minor parties soon. –Eds