Fuel prices going which affects many, tourism opening up too

Now is a time when better decisions need to be made about how taxpayer dollars are spent . . .

Easter is both a religious commemoration and a time to catch up with family and friends over the long weekend. It’s also a time for a chocolate egg or two, and I’m sure there will be many households across the Coromandel partaking in an Easter egg hunt.

Welcome to all our visitors and with border reopening to Australia, hopefully, we’ll start to see some international tourists. As is the case with all long weekends, I’m looking forward to our towns becoming busier as holidaymakers make the most of our region before winter sets in.

Increased visitor numbers couldn’t come at a better time as the past few weeks have been really tough for our local small businesses, especially the hospitality and tourism sectors. They’ve had to deal with isolation restrictions and price increases across their supply chains. If you can, please continue to support them as they have given so much to our communities over the years.

Just a quick reminder to take your time if you’re travelling on our roads and to take the necessary precautions out on the water. There’s plenty of time to enjoy all that the Coromandel has to offer.

The financial pressures facing New Zealanders has been the focus of much of the discussion MPS have been having at Parliament in recent weeks. Yes, there has been a temporary lowering of petrol prices and now because special legislation has been passed under urgency, there will be some small respite for people driving diesel vehicles too.

Temporarily lowering petrol and diesel prices are a small help, but alone do not go anywhere near compensating those people in the squeezed middle income bracket from the ravages of inflation currently running at a 30-year high.

Sooner or later the price of petrol will go up again. As we head into winter it’s looking like the rest of the year is going to be incredibly challenging for many people. Now is a time when better decisions need to be made about how taxpayer dollars are spent and questions asked about the value or lack of it we are getting from that spending.

Stay safe and Happy Easter.