Hon Anne Tolley
MP for East Coast

I’m always amazed by how time flies. Down here in windy Wellington we’re in the final House sitting session for 2015, despite it seeming as if the first session was only yesterday. It has also been seven years since National was elected and formed a strong, stable Government that delivers for families and households. This year has been no different and this Government has continued to deliver on its promises.

This year, we’ve delivered free doctor’s visits and prescriptions for children aged under 13, continued to invest a record $25 billion in health and education every year, and extended paid parental leave.

We’ve also delivered on our surplus target, and negotiated major trade agreements to help our exporters, growers, and businesses. We’re supporting households and businesses through lower ACC levies, rolling out faster broadband across the country, and cutting red tape. It’s been a productive year.
As MP for East Coast, a highlight for me has been seeing first-hand how this Government continues to support the regions, including our community.

In July, the Motu Trails Charitable Trust received $25,134 as one of six projects the Government is investing in to maintain the quality of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, funding a great community asset that attracts tourists to our region.

Another highlight was seeing the opening of the Tauranga Eastern Link, connecting the Eastern Bay of Plenty with the wider region and the Port of Tauranga. This is making transport safer and more efficient for our businesses, industries, and tourists.

At the opening of the Tauranga Eastern Link in July with Prime Minister John Key, Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller.

We’ve also seen Ohope Beach School receive $13.5 million for redevelopment and the Opotiki Harbour project receive $3 million to test the project’s viability.

The project will make our harbour significantly more usable for large vessels, and allow for a mussel farm off the Opotiki Coast, and a mussel processing plant in our region. This will offer significant potential economic, social, and cultural benefits for our local community.

I’ve also had the pleasure of being able to hear the issues within our electorate that matter to you. In October I had my colleagues Barbara Kuriger, Chester Borrows and Todd Barclay in Gisborne for the Provincial Priorities meetings. The discussions were immensely valuable and I received very positive feedback.

Now, here we are at the end of another great year. As we gear up for the holiday season I look forward to spending quality time with friends and family. It’s time to enjoy our fantastic East Coast sun and everything that this great region has to offer. I hope you take some time out of this busy period for yourselves and your families, and enjoy the last of 2015.

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