A Christmas message from Rotorua MP Todd McClay

Merry Christmas from Hon Todd McClay, MP for Rotorua.

Merry Christmas Te Puke!

As we head into the holiday season, it’s a time to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends after a busy year.

Over the year, significant steps have been taken to re-build our economy, reducing wasteful government spending, delivering much needed tax relief and reduced childcare cost pressures for hard working families.

We promised to restore law and order, and we are delivering on this with four major laws that crack down on criminal activity and give police stronger powers to tackle gangs. Te Puke also welcomed four new police officers this year boosting our local team.

New targets have been released to achieve better health care, we have replaced the Three Waters reform and introduced a fresh approach to funding and financing necessary infrastructure to rebuild our economy.

It was a real pleasure to congratulate Te Puke local Glenn Williams, who received a Kings Service Medal for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community. Glenn spent over 40 years in service to the community and now looks after my office here on Jellicoe St, so call in and say hello.

Another highlight was attending the 65th anniversary of the renaming of the Chinese gooseberry as kiwifruit.

This year’s kiwifruit season was very buoyant with 192 million trays picked, a record for the industry.

As always, it is a pleasure to take part in the annual Christmas Parade. Congratulations to Ōtamarākau School, who won the DMS Progrowers supreme theme award and the Te Puke Jewellers trophy, such a great float celebrating 65 years of the naming of the kiwifruit.

Sadly, after 112 years the Te Puke Times will no longer be printed from the end of this year. I want to thank Stuart Whitaker and his team for their dedication to Te Puke bringing us local news and sharing our communities’ stories.

Please take care travelling over the holiday period, allow extra time to get to your destination and enjoy the journey.

Finally, I wish you all a very happy Christmas and safe and sun filled holiday season.

Todd McClay, Member of Parliament for Rotorua