It is fantastic to be able to spend an extended time in the beautiful Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate after a few busy sitting weeks in Wellington and a recent trip to the NATO Summit in Turkey. I have thoroughly enjoyed being back and driving around our local winter landscapes and catching up with constituents—even if I’m a bit harder to spot right now in my unmarked car!
Speaking of getting around the electorate recently, it is great to see so much activity and earthworks up and down the electorate, even if it means navigating the inevitable “stop/go” signs. While inconvenient for the daily commute, they are ultimately welcome signs of tangible progress laying the foundation for our future. And as such I am delighted to confirm that the next stage of vital SH16 upgrades are fully funded and moving ahead, and the Mill Flat Road Bridge is finally receiving its finishing touches (see cheesy photo!). While we might all quite understandably wish these projects were completed faster, steady progress wins the race and allows for the vital community engagement that keeps our democracy robust and grounded.
This activity is also a welcome reminder that, despite recent economic hurdles and fuel shocks, our local businesses are getting back to basics, and I remain quietly confident in a bright future for our great corner of the country. There is still much more to be done though, of course, so please keep the conversations coming and I look forward to seeing you out and about or hearing from you through the electorate office in Kumeu soon.
