Todd Talk

If I could summarise our community’s reaction to the Government saying that the Tauranga Northern Link is to be built, after all, having scrapped the plans in 2018, it would be ‘about bloody time’. I am proud of the communities of Te Puna, Ōmokoroa, Whakamārama and Pahoia who, through the Fix The Bloody Road campaign, kept the pressure on the Minister of Transport to reinstate the project. Like our community, I am frustrated that this has taken so long.

While we are delighted that the Government has listened to the voices of our electorate, the pressure must remain on them to ensure that the Northern Link will look as much as possible like the plans the National Government announced in 2016. Promises of increased funding for major infrastructure like this significant highway are of course welcomed, but we want reassurance that it will be safer and more substantial than just tinkering with the existing narrow and windy roads. Bay of Plenty lives are at stake.

Sharp-eyed readers may have noticed that I didn’t write a column for the Lizard last month. In my place was Scott Simpson, MP for Coromandel, who will be alternating with me each month. Last election, the Bay of Plenty electorate boundary was at Sargent Drive; this election it will be at the Te Puna Stream. I’m sad to farewell Ōmokoroa and Whakamārama, but residents will be in very safe hands with my good friend Scott Simpson.

After the election, I’ll still be holding monthly constituent clinics, but they’ll be held in Te Puna.

If you need assistance at any time, please don’t hesitate to phone my office on 07 542 0505.